Acts 12:14

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. AND WHEN SHE KNEW PETER'S VOICE. He had before (says Humphry) been so recognized (). SHE OPENED NOT THE GATE FOR GLADNESS, BUT RAN IN, AND TOLD HOW PETER STOOD BEFORE THE GATE. How exquisitely natural is this part of the narrative!...

12-19 God's providence leaves room for the use of our prudence, though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has begun. These Christians continued in prayer for Peter, for they were truly in earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a mercy, we must continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe. The Christian law of self-denial and of suffering for Christ, has not done away the natural law of caring for our own safety by lawful means. In times of public danger, all believers have God for their hiding-place; which is so secret, that the world cannot find them. Also, the instruments of persecution are themselves exposed to danger; the wrath of God hangs over all that engage in this hateful work. And the range of persecutors often vents itself on all in its way....

SHE OPENED NOT THE GATE - At this time of night, and in these circumstances, the door would be fastened. Christians were doubtless alarmed by the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter, and they would take all possible precautions for their own safety. FOR GLADNESS - In her joy she hastened to inform those who were assembled of the safety of Peter....

EXPOSITION ACTS 12:1 _Put _for _stretched, _A.V.;_ afflict _for _vex, _A.V. The phrase, ABOUT THAT TIME, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20 and Acts 12:25 evidently implies that the bulk or rather the chief of the events narrated happened in the interval. Which of the events was the chief in the mind of the narrator with reference to his general narrative, and what are the coincidences which he wished to note, it is not easy to say with certainty. The narrative in this c

AND WHEN SHE KNEW PETER'S VOICE,.... often heard him preach and converse in the family: SHE OPENED NOT THE GATE FOR GLADNESS, filled with joy to hear his voice, and that he was delivered from prison, and in haste to carry the welcome news to the company within, stayed not to open the gate, and let Peter in: BUT RAN IN AND TOLD HOW PETER STOOD BEFORE THE GATE: she went into the house in a great hurry, and related to them within, that Peter was at the door without....

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The great Persecution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1)._ 2. The miraculous deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:6). 3. The Presumption and Judgment of Herod (Acts 12:18). 4. Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem (Acts 12:24). With this chapter we reach the conclusion of the second part of this book. Jerusalem had heard the second offer concerning the Kingdom, and mercy was ready even for the murderers of the Prince of Life. But that offer was rejected. Stephen's testimony followed by his martyrdom marked the close of that second offer to the city where our Lord had been crucified. Then broke out a great p

PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH BY HEROD AGRIPPA. PETER'S ESCAPE FROM PRISON. On Agrippa, see p. 610. His persecution of the Christians was according to his general policy. The persecutions of the faithful have been hitherto from the Jews acting through their local courts or the Sanhedrin. Now there is a civil ruler, also a Jew, minded to injure them, and persecution becomes more deadly. ACTS 12:1. ABOUT THAT TIME: this must be before the death of Herod in A.D. 44; it must be after Paul's visit to Jerusalem in Galatians 2:1; Acts 11:30, for he found James and Peter and John there. [98] James the brother of the Lord is spoken of by Paul under that title in...

IMPRISONMENT AND DELIVERANCE (Acts 12:1-11)...

WHEN SHE KNEW. having recognized. Greek. _epiginosko._ App-132. FOR. from. Greek. _apo._ App-104. TOLD. reported. Greek. _apangello._ Compare App-121....

_And when she knew Peter's voice_ We know that his speech was the cause of his being recognized on a previous occasion (Matthew 26:73). _she opened not the gate for gladness_ Cp. with this action the description of the disciples (Luke 24:41) when they recognized Jesus, "they believed not for joy....