Acts Chapter 12 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Acts 12:1-3
It was around this time that King Herod began arresting and persecuting certain members of the Messianic community; and he had Ya'akov, Yochanan's brother, put to death by the sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Judeans, he went on to arrest Kefa as well. It was during the Days of Matzah,
As the church was expanding, opposition grew in Jerusalem as it was believed that this threatened the government as well as the Jewish religious establishment. The King Herod that is mentioned is the same one that ordered the killing of all male children two years old and younger in the area of Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. The James that was put to the sword was one of the first disciples that Jesus called. As Herod saw that the Jews were happy about him killing Christians, he even arrested Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast is where the Jews remembered that God delivered them out of Egypt. Because of the festival, Peter was not tried immediately but was put in jail until the end of the celebration.
Acts 12:4 & 5
so when Herod seized him, he threw him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, with the intention of bringing him to public trial after Pesach. So Kefa was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.
Herod would not offend the Jews by having a trial during the holy feast so Peter sat in prison. He must have been really intent on killing Peter as sixteen men were assigned to make sure he did not escape. Meanwhile the group of believers were praying for him.
Acts 12:6 & 7
The night before Herod was going to bring him to trial, Kefa was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains; and guards were at the door, keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of ADONAI stood there, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Kefa's side and woke him. "Hurry! Get up!" he said; and the chains fell off his hands.
What a rescue! It is amazing that Peter could be sleeping while he was chained between two soldiers on the night before his scheduled trial and execution. God sent an angel and the chains fell off of Peter. This is also a beautiful picture of salvation as we are chained to sin but released through Jesus Christ. It can also be a comfort in that it is yet another example of how God takes care of his own people. Herod had his big plans for Peter but God had other plans and he is in control. The same is true for us today as the God of Peter's day is the same God of today!
Acts 12:8 & 9
The angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals," and he did. "Throw on your robe," he said, "and follow me!" Going out, Kefa followed him but did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real - he thought he was seeing a vision.
It must have seemed like a dream to see God working in this way. Even so, Peter was obedient to the working of God and followed the angel out of the prison. This is a good example for us as we too may be in situations that just seem like a dream but in fact are God in action. We have to learn to watch, listen, and act whenever prompted. Peter could have not believed and just sat in the cell which would have led to him being killed the next day. There are missed opportunities and consequences to not listening and watching for God's work in our lives.
Acts 12:10 & 11
Having passed a first guard and a second, they arrived at the iron gate leading to the city. This opened to them by itself, and they made their exit. They went down the length of one street, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Kefa came to himself and said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod's power and from everything the Judean people were hoping for."
Peter was sort of dazed as they simply walked past the guards. When they came to the gate it just opened by itself as they passed out into the city. After the angel was gone, Peter came around and figured that he couldn't have done this by himself and so came to appreciate what the Lord had done. It seems that we sometimes walk around in a daze not seeing what God is doing in and around us. We think that our efforts are so important and many even walk around in a daze not appreciating what Jesus has done for them on the cross. We need to slow down, watch and listen to appreciate God working in our lives.
Acts 12:12
Realizing what had happened, he went to the house of Miryam the mother of Yochanan (surnamed Mark), where many people had gathered to pray.
So, after Peter realized that it wasn't a dream, he went to a house where many of the disciples were gathered and they were praying. The interesting thing here is that they weren't at a fancy building or temple but were simply at a believer's home.
Acts 12:13-15
He knocked at the outside door, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized Kefa's voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Kefa was standing outside. "You're out of your mind!" they said to her. But she insisted it was true. So they said, "It is his angel."
This is a very strange passage in that, in verse 12, we were told that they had gathered at this house and were praying. But, when God answered the prayer, they did not immediately believe it. We are not told exactly what they were praying but, as we can see, they were not prepared for God's answer. They, as well as us today, should expect our prayers to be answered and not be surprised when God works. Jesus himself encouraged us to pray and to believe that they will be answered.
Acts 12:16 & 17
Meanwhile, Kefa kept knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet, he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and said, "Tell all this to Ya'akov and the brothers." Then he left and went elsewhere.
What a lesson we have here in that, when God is at work in your life, you should tell others about it. After being rescued from prison and the death penalty, all Peter asks of those that were gathered is for them to tell others of what God had done. As Christians, that should be us every day as well as we see God at work in our lives. Maybe it is not God rescuing us from prison every day but, if we are watching we will see God at work in our daily lives and every day is an opportunity to tell others about what God is doing.
Acts 12:18 & 19
When daylight came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Kefa. Herod had a thorough search made for him, but they failed to find him, so he cross-examined the guards and ordered them put to death. Then Herod went down from Y'hudah to Caesarea and spent some time there.
It seems that Herod family was always at odds with God's plan. At Jesus' birth, Herod the Great (the grandfather of Herod Agrippa 1 who was looking for Peter) had the little children killed because he couldn't find Jesus and now his grandson has the guards killed because he can't find Peter. You would think that maybe he would stop and realize that something bigger than himself is going on but he doesn't. The same can probably be said of us at times as God is at work and we don't take notice and we may even get frustrated, like Herod, and do bad things. That is why we must be always in prayer and looking for God at work in our lives.
Acts 12:20-23
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tzor and Tzidon, so they joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, the king's chief personal servant, they asked for peace; because they depended on the king's lands for their food supply. A day was set, and Herod in his royal robes sat on the throne and made a speech to them. The mob cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not a man!" At once, because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of ADONAI struck him down. He was eaten away by worms and died.
Things must have been looking pretty good for Herod as he had killed some of the disciples and then some of his enemies came to him to ask for peace. He gave a big speech and the crowd loved it and even lifted him up as a god. But, God is a jealous god and does not share his position with anyone and so Herod was killed by an angel of the Lord. We all probably know of someone that is openly hostile to Jesus Christ but it seems like they are still prospering in the world. This passage can serve to remind us that God is in control and he will take care of those who elevate themselves to God's throne.
Acts 12:24 & 25
But the word of the Lord went on growing and being multiplied. Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul, having completed their errand, returned from Yerushalayim, bringing with them Yochanan, surnamed Mark.
No matter what rulers tried to do or the people they arrested, God's word spread. That was true then and it is also true today as there are many countries where the leaders try to keep the people from hearing the gospel but God is still in control and working there.