1.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
This chapter is a parenthesis, describing events in A.D. 14.
about . Greek. kata.
time = season.
Herod . Herod Agrippa I. App-109 .
stretched forth his hands = put to his hands. Compare Luke 9:62 , same phrase.
vex = maltreat. Greek. kakoo. See note on Acts 7:6 .
certain . Greek. tis. App-123 .
of = of those from the church. App-186 .
2.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
killed . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .
James . App-141 .
John . App-141 . The last historical reference to John.
sword . Death by the sword was regarded by the Rabbis as particularly disgraceful.
3.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
because he saw = seeing. Greek. eidon. App-133 .
pleased = is pleasing to. See note on Acts 6:2 , and Mark 15:15 (note).
proceeded further = added. A Hebraism. Greek. prostithemi. Compare Luke 20:11 .
take . See note on Acts 1:16 .
unleavened bread . Literally the unleavened (things). Leaven in every form was to be put away. Exodus 12:16 , Exodus 12:19 .
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.
apprehended = arrested. Greek. piazo. See note on John 11:57 .
in = into. Greek. eis.
prison = ward. Greek. pkulake.
quaternions . Greek. tetradion, a body of four. Only here. There were four soldiers to guard Peter for each of the four watches. The prisoner was chained to two and the other two kept watch. See Acts 12:6 .
intending . Greek. boulomai. App-102 .
after . Greek. meta. App-104 .
Easter . Greek. to pascha, the Passover. Easter is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T.
bring . . . forth = lead up, i.e. to the judgment seat. Compare Luke 22:66 .
people . Greek. laos.
5.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
therefore = then indeed.
prayer . Greek. proseuche. App-134 .
without ceasing = intense, Greek. ektenes. Occurs elsewhere only in 1 Peter 4:8 . The comparative only in Luke 22:44 , and the adverb in 1 Peter 1:22 . The texts here read the adverb, ektenos.
of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
for = in behalf of. Greek. huper. App-104 ., but texts read peri , concerning.
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.
would have brought = was about to bring.
the same = that.
sleeping . Greek. koimaomai. App-171 .
keepers = guards. See Acts 5:23 .
kept = were keeping.
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.
behold . Greek. idou. App-133 .
came upon = stood over.
light . Greek. phos. App-130 .
prison . Greek. oikema, dwelling. Only here. The Revised Version reads "cell". That was Peter's dwelling-place. The angel of the Lord there.
Peter on the side = Peter's side.
raised . . . up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .
Arise up . Greek. anistemi. App-178 .
quickly = in (Greek. en) or with speed.
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.
Gird thyself . Greek. perizonnumi. Occurs elsewhere, Luke 12:35 , Luke 12:37 ; Luke 17:8 . Ephesians 6:14 .Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 15:6 . Texts read zonnumi, as in John 21:18 .
unto = to.
garment . Greek. himation, the outer garment.
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.
him . The texts omit.
wist = knew. Greek. oida. App-132 .
true . Greek. alethes. App-175 .
by = through. Greek. dia.
thought = was thinking.
saw . Greek. blepo. App-133 .
vision . Greek. horama, as in Acts 7:31 .
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.
When, &c . Now, having passed through.
ward = prison. Greek. phulake, as in verses: Acts 12:4 , Acts 12:5 , Acts 12:6 , Acts 4:17 .
unto = upon. Greek. epi.
opened = was opened.
of his own accord = automatically. Greek. automatos. Elsewhere only in Mark 4:28 .
street . Greek. rhume. See note on Acts 9:11 .
forthwith = immediately. Greek. eutheos.
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.
when, &c . Peter, having come to be.
to himself = in (Greek. en) himself, i.e. in his right senses. Compare "out of his senses", or "beside himself".
know . Greek. oida, as in Acts 12:9 .
of a surety = truly. Greek. alethos. Compare App-175 .
hath sent = sent. Greek. exapostello. App-174 .
hath delivered = delivered. See note on Acts 7:10 .
expectation = eager looking. Greek. prosdokia. Elsewhere only in Luke 21:26 . Compare App-133 .
12.
And when 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.
when, &c . = having considered or realized. Greek. suneidon. See note on Acts 5:2 .
Mary . App-100 .
John . See Acts 13:5 , Acts 13:13 ; Acts 15:37 , Acts 15:39 . Col 4:10 . 2 Timothy 4:11 .
gathered together . Greek. sunathroizo. Elsewhere only in Acts 19:25 .Luke 24:33 .
praying = and praying. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .
13.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
as Peter knocked = Peter, having knocked.
gate . Greek. pulon. Translated "porch" in Matthew 26:71 .
damsel . Greek. paidiske. Compare App-108 .
hearken = answer. Greek. hupakouo. Elsewhere translated "obey", or "be obedient".
named = by name.
Rhoda . Greek. Rhode, rose.
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.
when she knew = having recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .
for = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
told = reported. Greek. apangello. Compare App-121 .
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.
Thou art mad . Greek. mainomai. Here, Acts 26:24 , Acts 26:25 . Joh 10:20 . 1 Corinthians 14:23 .
constantly affirmed = kept strongly asserting. Greek. diischurizomai. Compound of dia and ischurizomai. Compare App-172 . Elsewhere only in Luke 22:59 .
angel , i.e. guardian angel, according to Jewish belief. Compare Matthew 18:10 . Hebrews 1:14 .
16.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
continued . Greek. epimeno. See note on Acts 10:48 .
were astonished = were astounded. Greek. existemi. See Acts 2:7 ; Acts 8:9 ; Acts 9:21 ; Acts 10:45 .
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 shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
beckoning . Literally shaking down. Greek. kataseio. Only in Acts, here, Acts 13:16 ; Acts 19:33 ; Acts 21:40 . The action suggested he was in haste and must not be interrupted.
hold their peace = be silent.
declared . Greek. diegeomai. See Acts 8:33 .
had . Omit.
shew . Same as "told" in Acts 12:14 .
James . The Lord's brother. See Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:19 , and App-182 .
another . Greek. heteros. App-124 .
18.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
as soon as, &c . = day having come.
stir = disturbance. Greek. tarachos. Here and Acts 19:23 .
among . Greek. en. App-104 .
what was, &c . Literally what then Peter had come to be.
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 Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
sought for him = sought him up and down.
not . Greek. me. App-105 .
examined . Greek. anakrino. App-122 .
put to death = led away, i.e. to execution. Greek. apago. Same word as in Matthew 27:31 , &c.
Caesarea . See Acts 8:40 .
abode . Greek. diatribo, to rub away, or spend (time). Occures John 3:22 ; John 11:54 , and eight times in Acts.
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.
Herod . Texts read "He".
was highly displeased . Greek. thumomacheo, to fight angrily. Only here.
them of Tyre, &c . = the Tyrians, &c.
came = were present, or presented themselves.
with one accord . Greek. homothumadon. See note on Acts 1:14 .
made . . . their friend = persuaded, or won over. Greek. peitho. App-150 .
the king's chamberlain = one who was over (Greek. epi. App-104 ) the bedchamber (Greek. koiton. Only here) of the king.
desired = were asking for. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .
because . Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 12:2 .
nourished . Compare 1Ki 5:9 , 1 Kings 5:11 .Ezekiel 27:17 .
king's = royal. Greek. basilikos. See note on John 4:46 .
21.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
set = appointed .
royal . Same as "king's", Acts 12:20 .
apparel . Josephus ( Antiquities XIX. viii. 2) says it was of silver tissue, and glittered resplendently in the sun.
his throne = the throne. Greek. bema. Always translated "judgment seat" except here and Acts 7:5 . Compare John 19:13 .
made an oration , i.e. a political oration. Greek. demegoreo. Only here.
22.
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
people . Greek. demos. The usual word for the populace. Only here, Acts 17:5 ; Acts 19:30 , Acts 19:33 .
gave a shout . Greek. epiphoneo. Only here, Acts 22:24 , and Luke 23:21 .
man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
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.
immediately . Greek. parachrema. See note on Acts 3:7 .
because = the reason for (Greek. anti. App-104 . ) which.
eaten of worms . Greek. skolekobrotos. Only here. skolex, a worm, only in Mark 9:44-48 .
gave up the ghost = expired. Greek. ekpsucho. Only here and Acts 5:5 , Acts 5:10 .
24.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
word . Greek. logos. App-121 .
grew = increased.
multiplied . Greek. plethuno. See Matthew 24:12 .
25.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
ministry , i.e. of administering the contributions of Acts 11:30 . Greek. diakonia. App-190 .
took with them . Greek. sumparalambano. Only here, Acts 15:37 , Acts 15:38 , and Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:1 .