NOW ABOUT THAT TIME - That is, during the time that the famine existed, or the time when Barnabas and Saul went up to Jerusalem. This was probably about the fifth or sixth year of the reign of Claudius, not far from 47 ad. HEROD THE KING - This was Herod Agrippa. The Syriac so renders it expressly,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE KILLED ... - He caused to be put to death with a sword, either by beheading, or piercing him through. The Roman procurators were entrusted with authority over life, though in the time of Pilate the Jews had not this authority. JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JOHN - This was the son of Zebedee, Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BECAUSE HE SAW THAT IT PLEASED THE JEWS - This was the principle on which he acted. It was not from a sense of right; it was not to do justice, and to protect the innocent; it was not to discharge the appropriate duties of a magistrate and a king, but it was to promote his own popularity. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM - When he had taken or arrested him. HE PUT HIM IN PRISON - During the solemnities of this religious festival, it would have been deemed improper to have engaged in the trial of a supposed criminal. The minds of the people were expected to be devoted solely to the se... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PRAYER WAS MADE - The church was apprised of his imprisonment and danger, and had no resource but to apply to God by prayer. In scenes of danger there is no other refuge; and the result shows that even in most discouraging circumstances God can hear prayer. Nothing scarcely could appear more hop... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH - When he was about to bring him to be put to death. THE SAME NIGHT - That is, the night preceding. The intention of Herod was to bring him out as soon as the Passover was over; but during the night which immediately preceded the day in which he intended... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - See the notes on Acts 5:19. CAME UPON HIM - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ἐπέστη epestē. AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON - Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendor, and shining apparel are commonly represented as the... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD THYSELF - When they slept the outer garment was thrown off, and the girdle with which they bound their inner garment, or tunic, was loosed. He was directed now to gird up that inner garment as they usually wore it; that is, to dress himself, and prepare to follow him. BIND ON THY SANDALS - Put... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WIST NOT - Knew not. THAT IT WAS TRUE - That it was real. BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was tr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD - The word which is here rendered “ward” φυλακήν phulakēn properly denotes “the act of guarding”; but it is most commonly used to denote “a prison, or place of confinement.” In this place it seems to denote the guard itself - the soldiers stationed at intervals in the ent... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF - This expression naturally means, when he had overcome bas amazement and astonishment at the unexpected deliverance, so as to be capable of reflection. He had been amazed by the whole transaction. He thought it was a vision: and in the suddenness and rapidity with... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD CONSIDERED ... - Thinking on the subject; considering what he should do in these circumstances. HE CAME TO THE HOUSE OF MARY ... - Probably this house was near him; and he would naturally seek the dwelling of a Christian friend. THE MOTHER OF JOHN ... - Probably this was the John M... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE - Rather the door of the vestibule, or principal entrance into the house. The house was entered through such a porch or vestibule, and it was the door opening into this which is here intended. See the notes on Matthew 9:2. A DAMSEL - A girl. CAME TO HEARKEN - To hear who wa... [ Continue Reading ]
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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART MAD - Thou art insane. They seemed to have regarded his rescue as so difficult and so hopeless, that they deemed it proof of derangement that she now affirmed it. And yet this was the very thing for which they had been so earnestly praying. When it was now announced to them that the object... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE ASTONISHED - They were now convinced that it was Peter, and they were amazed that he had been rescued. As yet they were of course ignorant of the manner in which it was done.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE, BECKONING ... - To prevent the noise, and tumult, and transport which was likely to be produced. His wish was, not that there should be clamorous joy, but that they should listen in silence to what God had done. It was sufficient to awe the soul, and produce deep, grateful feeling. A noise m... [ Continue Reading ]
NO SMALL STIR - Amazement that he had escaped, and apprehension of the consequences. The punishment which they had reason to expect, for having suffered his escape, was death.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE EXAMINED THE KEEPERS - The soldiers who were entrusted with his custody. Probably only those who had the special care of him at that watch of the night. The word “examine” here means “to inquire diligently, to make investigation.” He subjected them to a rigid scrutiny to ascertain the manner of h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEROD WAS HIGHLY DISPLEASED ... - Greek: “bore a hostile mind,” intending war. See the margin. The Greek word θυμομαχῶν thumomachōn does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means to meditate war; to purpose war in the mind; or here, probably, to be enraged or angry at them. What was t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON A SET DAY - An appointed, public day. This was the second day of the sports and games which Herod celebrated in Caesarea in honor of Claudius Caesar. Josephus has given an account of this occurrence, which coincides remarkably with the narrative here. The account is contained in his “Antiqu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE GAVE A SHOUT - A loud applause. IT IS THE VOICE OF A GOD ... - It is not probable that the Jews joined in this acclamation, but that it was made by the idolatrous Gentiles. Josephus gives a similar account of their feelings and conduct. He says, “And presently his flatterers cried out... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - Diseases and death axe in the Scriptures often attributed to an angel. See 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:12, 1Ch 21:15, 1 Chronicles 21:20, 1 Chronicles 21:27; 2 Chronicles 32:21. It is not intended that there was a miracle in this case, but it certainly is... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE WORD OF GOD GREW ... - Great success attended it. The persecutions had now ceased; and notwithstanding all the attempts which had been made to crush it, stir the church increased and flourished. The liberation of Peter and the death of Herod would contribute to extend it. It was a new eviden... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM - They had gone to Jerusalem to carry alms, and they now returned to Antioch, Acts 11:30. WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MINISTRY - When they had accomplished the purpose for which they had been sent there; that is, to deposit the alms of the church at Antioch in the hands of... [ Continue Reading ]