Comments on Acts 12

v1-2  Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great,
persecutes the Christians and has James, brother of John Beloved,
executed.

     It is possible that with James' execution Paul is made an
apostle, but no replacement is ever explicitly identified.

v3-11  When Herod sees that his persecution of the Christians
pleases the Jews over whom he rules he continues on in the
campaign by taking Peter, the leader of the Christians.  The
Church prays for Peter without ceasing, and he is miraculously
delivered.  So miraculously that Peter himself has a hard time
believing it.

v3 "the days of unleavened bread", i.e., the Feast of Passover.

v4 "Easter", the KJV takes considerable liberty in translating
the Greek "pascha" to "Easter", which is elsewhere translated
"Passover".  All modern translations render this "Passover".

v9  The experience is so surreal to Peter he thinks he is
dreaming it all, especially since the angel woke him from sleep
to release him.  It isn't until he is well outside the prison the
reality of the situation sinks in to him.

v10  The text doesn't inform us if the "ward", or guards, are
awake or asleep.  The general context suggests it was at night,
as Peter himself was awaken from sleep in v. 7.  One would assume
the guards were asleep as well as there is little point in
keeping awake to watch someone bound in chains and behind locked
doors.

v12-17  After he has had some time to think, Peter decides to go
where he is certain people will be gathered.  Upon arrival a
woman goes to the gate and is so shocked she doesn't even let
Peter in, instead she runs and tells the others.  They don't
believe her though, and tell her she is crazy.  When she
adamantly insists it is true, they conclude it must be Peter's
spirit.  But when Peter keeps knocking, they go and find it
really is him in the flesh.  He quiets their astonishment and
relates what happened, and then leaves, presumably for a safe
place to hide out for a while.

v15-16  Their reaction to Peter's miraculous release seems kind
of odd given their apparently devout praying in his behalf in v.
5.  One would assume they were not expecting anything quite so
dramatic or miraculous.  Or, were so given over to the idea of
Peter's execution that their prayers were more for Peter's
consolation than for some sort of delivery.

v20-23  The people of Tyre and Sidon anger Herod Agrippa I over
some matter, so they enlist the aid of an insider and resort to
ingratiating themselves by calling Herod a god.  Herod enjoys it
and apparently is filled with pride.  However, an angel of the
Lord smites Herod and he dies.

v23 "because he gave not God the glory", political rulers whom
the Lord places where He pleases anger Him when they boast in
their own strength and wisdom, cp. Isa. 10:5-15.

     "and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost", while
the word order in English means "this...then that" it is not so
in Greek.  Word order in Greek sentences is meaningless.  Thus,
it is plain that he gives up the ghost first, and then is eaten
by worms.  The "eaten by worms" statement is a paraphrase of Isa.
14:11, thus Luke is comparing Herod's demise with the overthrow
of the ancient king of Babylon castigated in Isa. 14.




Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
reserved.  No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by 
any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of 
the author.  Digital or printed copies may be freely made and 
distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.