Introductory remarks:
"Herod kills James, John's brother, and arrests Peter. An angel comes and leads Peter out of prison. He goes to John Mark's house and tells them to tell James. Herod seeks Peter but can't find him. When Herod is called a god by the people of Tyre and Sidon, he dies. Barnabas and Saul take John Mark on their return from Jerusalem" (Brenda's' Survey of Acts). This chapter may be outlined as follows: James killed and Peter imprisoned vv. 1-5; Peter delivered from prison vv. 6-19; the death of Herod vv. 20-25.
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
Verse 1, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church."
LGT "And at that time Herod the king laid on his hands to evil-treat some of those of the assembly."
This Herod was king Agrippa 1, the grandson of Herod the Great. "You will recall that up to this point the persecution against the church had been largely from the religious rulers, the Sadducees in particular. Now it moves into the realm of government. Persecution swings from religion to politics. Perhaps Herod did this to gain favor with certain influential groups. We know that he stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. The word vexed is hardly adequate to describe what he did. He carried on a brutal, unfeeling persecution of the church" (McGee).
Verse 2, "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."
LGT "And he put to death James the brother of John with a sword."
James and John were called the sons of thunder, and Christ predicted a bloody death for them both (Mark 10:38f. = Matt. 20:23). James was the first apostle to die and John probably the last (Robertson).
Verse 3, "And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)"
LGT "And having seen it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to take Peter also: (and they were [the] days of unleavened bread:)"
Herod wanted to make an impression on the Jews, so he proceeded to arrest Peter also. The parenthesis the days of unleavened bread, "presented a fine occasion for Agrippa to increase his favor among the crowds of Jews there by extra zeal against the Christians" (Robertson). The Jews, who claimed to love the God of peace, burned with hatred for His Son Jesus Christ; the Jews hated Jesus with a passion, and now that they have crucified The Christ, they take their hatred out on all His followers.
Verse 4, "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."
LGT "Whom also having seized he put him in prison, having delivered to four sets of four soldiers to guard him, purposing after the Passover to bring him out to the people."
There were sixteen soldiers in all guarding Peter. There were two soldiers chained to him on the inside and two on the outside; they guarded him in shifts of six hours each; so you see, Peter was well guarded. "The Passover feast of eight days. The stricter Jews regarded it a profanation to put a person to death during a religious festival. So Agrippa is more scrupulous than the Sanhedrim was about Jesus. Peter was in the inner prison or lower ward and so would be led up to the judgment seat where Herod Agrippa would sit, at the pleasure of the people" (Robertson).
Verse 5, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
LGT "Peter therefore indeed was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him."
James was killed and now Peter is imprisoned; it was a desperate time for the assembly at Jerusalem; this caused them to pray even more earnestly for Peter. Prayer was the greatest weapon the first church had against the Jews and the Romans.
Peter Delivered from Prison
Verse 6, "And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison."
LGT "But when Herod was about to bring him forth, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, guards also before the door kept the prison."
Peter was bound by two chains attached to two soldiers, one on each side. There were also two guards on the outside of the door and two inside the door according to Roman custom. While Peter was chained in prison, we learned above, that the church at Jerusalem was praying earnestly for him; I believe with Calvin that they were not praying so much for Peter's life, as that the Lord would arm him with invincible fortitude, for the glory of the gospel, and that God would not set the gospel of His Son open to the reproaches and slander of the wicked.
How different was this sleeping of Peter here than when he fell asleep in Gethsemane when Jesus was praying before He went to the cross; there it was from somewhat indifference, and here it is total relaxing in the care of God. Here Peter was exercising the "faith rest technique".
Verse 7, "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands."
LGT "And behold, an angel of [the] Lord stood by, and a light shone in the cell: and having smitten the side of Peter he roused him up saying, Rise up in haste. And the chains of him fell off [his] hands."
The angel came in and smote Peter on the side hard enough to wake him, and the chains fell off his hands. No chains could hold Peter if God wanted him free. Only God could awake Peter in this manner without waking the guards also.
Verse 8, "And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me."
LGT "And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on your sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast about [you] your garment, and follow me."
The angel instructs Peter to get dressed and follow him.
Verse 9, "And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision."
LGT "And going forth he followed, and did not know that it is real which is happening by means of the angel: but he thought he saw a vision."
Peter obeyed, but he thought he was dreaming. Peter was not unaccustomed to visions, for he had recently experienced one in Joppa, in Simon the tanner's house. Peter will soon find out it is not a dream, because one wakes up from a dream. I believe Peter thought that this was the end for him, and it was hard for him to believe this was all true.
Verse 10, "When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him."
LGT "And having passed through a first guard and a second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which of itself opened to them, and having gone out, they went on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him."
It is not clear what is meant by these several guards except that the prison was well guarded, and that the angel directed Peter to a narrow street outside the prison walls and then left him a free man. Whatever might be said about Peter's deliverance, the fact that it was a miracle of God cannot be denied.
Verse 11, "And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."
LGT "And Peter, having come to himself said, Now I know of a truth that [the] Lord sent forth His angel, and delivered me out of [the] hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews."
Peter now realizes that he is not dreaming, and that the Lord has delivered him by His own angel that He sent; the phrase Herod and all the people of the Jews, means that he was delivered from Herod, who had James killed by the sword (vs. two), and the Jews who had Stephen stoned; "now they are waiting for Peter like hungry wolves" (Robertson). Peter ascribes his deliverance to the proper source, the Lord, "the more the enemy, the more the grace" (Calvin).
Verse 12, "And he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying."
LGT "And considering [it] he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying."
Peter decided to go to Mary's house where the disciples were accustomed to meet, after considering all that had happened, to be with his fellow believers. "Mary may have been a widow and was possessed of some means since her house was large enough to hold the large group of disciples there" (Robertson). Mary was the mother of John Mark, the one who wrote the Gospel that bears his name. McGee Notes, "The church at this particular time, and for about a hundred and fifty years after this, did not have church buildings. Today, when we talk of a church, we usually mean a building. We say, 'The first So-and-So church is on the corner of main and So-and-So.' Actually, that is not a church at all; it is a building in which the church meets. The church is the body of believers. At the beginning the church never met in a public building. They had none. They met in homes."
Verse 13, "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda."
LGT "And he having knocked [at] the door of the porch, a damsel came to listen, by name Rhoda;"
Peter comes to the outer gate that leads to the front porch and began knocking. Rhoda [her name means rose], one of the young disciples gathered there in Mary's house.
Verse 14, "And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate."
LGT "And having recognized the voice of Peter, from the joy she opened not the gate of the porch, but having run in she reported Peter to be standing before the porch."
Rhoda, overwhelmed with joy when she recognized Peter, she left him standing outside the unopened gate, and ran in to tell the others that Peter was outside.
Verse 15, "And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel."
LGT "But they said to her, Thou art mad. But she strongly affirmed it was thus. And they said, it is his angel."
The disciples gathered at Mary's house said they thought she was insane; but she did not waver; she insisted she knew it was Peter. They continued to say that it was his angel; it was a common Jewish belief that all men have guardian angels; however, there is no Scripture proof of this.
Verse 16, "But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished."
LGT "But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were amazed."
Peter keeps on knocking and they all rush out to the outer court to see if Rhoda was crazy or not; they open the door, and upon seeing Peter they are amazed that their prayers were answered.
Verse 17, "But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place."
LGT "And having made a sign to them with the hand to be silent, he related [to them] how the Lord brought him out of prison, and he said, Report to James and to the brethren these things. And having gone out, he went to another place."
When the disciples opened the door and saw that it was Peter, their joy became very loud, so that Peter had to hush them. Then he related how the Lord had made the way for him to escape, and he told them to report it James, the son of Alpheus, commonly called the Less (Matt. 10:3). Peter wanted them to relate that the Lord had answered their prayers to the brethren who had been praying. The other apostles were off to spread the Good News of the Gospel around the world. Peter went into a place of retirement until the danger had passed.
Verse 18, "Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter."
LGT "And day having come, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what was then become of Peter."
Luke describes the disturbance among the soldiers as no small disturbance, which in effect means that there was a very big disturbance among the soldiers. It is no small wonder that the soldiers were disturbed, because the sentence of death would be pronounced on them for permitting Peter to escape. "When the soldiers found what had happened and realized that Simon Peter was gone, I think they called out half the army. They must have made a house-to-house search. Maybe they threw a guard around the city to prevent his escape. There was no small stir according to Dr. Luke. I'll say not! There was a mighty big stir" (McGee).
Verse 19, "And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode."
LGT "And Herod having sought after him, and not having found [him], having examined the guards, he commanded [them] to be led away [to death]: and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed [there]."
It was the Roman custom to punish the guards with death who were commanded to watch over the prisoner. After Herod heard the guard's defense, he sent them away to their deaths. Herod went down to Caesarea, where he enjoyed to vacation, and he stayed there till his death; there is no account of his seeking Peter any longer or persecuting any other Christians.
The Death of Herod
Verse 20, "And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the King's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country."
LGT "And Herod was in bitter hostility with [the] Tyrians and Sidonians: but with one accord they came to him, and having gained Blastus, who [was] over the bedchamber of the king, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's [country]."
The country of Tyre and Sidon for some reason angered Herod, who had control of all the surrounding Roman provinces; they feared the king so they came with one accord to Blastus, the kings chamberlain, and persuaded him, probably with gifts, to plea their case for them before Herod; they were very afraid of Herod, because he controlled the countries that provided food and other needed supplies to them. "The country of Tyre and Sidon included a narrow strip of land on the coast of the Mediterranean. Of course they were dependent for provisions, and for articles of commerce, on the interior country; but this belonged to the kingdom of Herod; and as they were entirely dependant on his country, as he had power to dry up the sources of their support and commerce, they were the more urgent to secure his favor" (Barnes).
Verse 21, "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them."
LGT "And on a set day Herod, having put on royal apparel, [and] having sat on the tribunal, was making an oration to them,"
The term "set day" means that it was a festival day; we are not sure what festival it might have been, and only speculation can be said concerning this event. Herod dressed himself in his royal apparel and began his popular harangue; the people loved to hear him rant, for he was a very popular speaker, probably something like the democratic nominee, Barrack Obama, in our country; they don't say anything of substance or value, but they are wonderful orators. McGee comments: "Herod was pompous and lifted up by pride. He was also a pleasing speaker. He was the kind of politician who would have been elected no matter what party he would run for."
Verse 22, "And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."
LGT "And the people were crying out, [The] voice of a god and not a man!"
The heathen crowd shouted out that Herod spoke as a god and not a man, which was very ego satisfying to Herod; the people also felt ego satisfied, for all unbelievers need a hero. As these people were heathen, they did not make reference to the Supreme Being, they were referring to their pagan gods.
Verse 23, "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."
LGT "And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not glory to God, and having been eaten of worms he expired."
Herod rotted with worms because he allowed the people to flatter him as a god, and he did not give God the proper glory. All unbelief is giving the Glory of God to someone or something else. "These impious flatterers bring down whom they exalt; for God will pull down His rivals" (Poole). Josephus, the Jewish historian writes: "Herod Agrippa lingered for five days and says the rotting of his flesh produced worms, an item in harmony with the narrative of Luke."
Verse 24, "But the word of God grew and multiplied."
LGT "But the Word of God grew and multiplied."
Persecution has never hurt the Word of God. The Church, every individual Christian, will also grow by God's Holy Word, and the persecution of the world will not prevail against them. "The Word of God is compared here to seed, as in our Savior's parable, Matt. 13:19. The number of believers multiplied through the Word, which was sown, as seed is scattered abroad. So true it is, that persecutors, by their pulling down of the church, do but build it up" (Matthew Poole).
Verse 25, "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark."
LGT "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministration, having taken with [them] John who was surnamed Mark."
Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem after taking the alms given at Antioch for the Church there. They had fulfilled their ministration, that is the business for which they were sent, and it says they took John Mark with them.
This completes this period of the Book of Acts; the Gospel has gone into Judea and Samaria, and now the Gospel will go unto the ends of the earth.
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