IV. A Church Founded in Antioch and Another Persecution in Jerusalem (continued)(11:19-12:25)
E. James is beheaded and Peter is imprisoned (vv. 1-11)
The historian leaves Barnabas and Saul and takes us to Jerusalem where two important events in early church history occur.
v.1 The time: about 44 AD Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great- who had the babies killed searching for Jesus and the nephew of Herod Antipas- the beheader of John the Baptist. This is the first example of persecution of the church by civil authorities.
v.2 James the son of Zebedee, the first apostle to die. His brother John will be the last apostle to die. At this time the Jews were using four modes of capital punishment: 1) stoning, 2) burning, 3) decapitation and 4) crucifixion.
v.3 Seeing that his actions pleased the people, he seized Peter. This was the last part of March or the first part of April, the time of the Passover or unleavened bread. Herod would not execute Peter during the Holy Days.
v.4 Peter was not immediately executed because this would offend the Jews. A quaternion of soldiers is four soldiers. These are extreme security measures. The word Easter as used in the KJV does not correspond to the current usage of the word by denominational world.
v.5 The sides have been chosen: King Herod, soldiers, prisons, chains iron gates versus Christians praying earnestly or fervently without ceasing.
v.6 In this verse we see the placement of the four guards.
v.7 The angel appears only to Peter. What awoke Peter? The light? The strike on his side? Peter was chained to two soldiers, one on either side.
v.8 Peter had removed some of his outer clothing and shoes before going to sleep. These would be needed for the escape to the outside.
v.9 Peter thought he was in a trance, seeing a vision, not knowing that he was really escaping his captors.
v.10 This prison was located within the city. The first and second ward refers to the outer guards. The gate opened under supernatural influence. Once Peter had cleared the prison he had no need of the angels help.
v.11 Peter finally realizes that he is experiencing reality, not a dream. The expectation of the Jews was that Peter would be killed.
F. Peter leaves the city and the guards are slain (vv. 12-19)
v.12 There are six Mary's mentioned in the New Testament. 1) Mary of Cleophas Jn. 19:25, 2) Mary Magdalene Lk. 8:2, 3) Mary the mother of Mark Acts 12:12, 4) Mary the sister of Lazarus
Lk. 10:42, 5) Mary a Roman Christian Rom. 16:6 and 6) Mary the mother of Jesus Lu.1:30. What about Mary the aunt of Barnabas? Col. 4:10. The house of Mark's mother was probably a popular gathering place for disciples and Peter knew that brethren could be found there.
v.13 Peter knocks on the "door of the gate" and Rhoda, possibly a slave, answers it.
v.14 She was so surprised at hearing Peter's voice she ran immediately to tell those within the house of his presence.
v.15 Even though the company within did not believe Rhoda, they did believe that she heard something or someone who sounded like Peter, possibly his angel.
v.16 Peter continues to knock and when the gate is finally opened those within are amazed to see Peter there in the flesh.
v.17 Peter beckons them to be quiet, he relates his escape to these brethren and tells them to inform James and the other brethren. Which James is this? Peter departs to another place.
v.18 The soldiers are extremely agitated at Peter's escape.
v.19 Herod's condemnation of the guards was according to Roman law not of any particular cruelty on his part. The King also had a palace at Caesarea. Why would he go there now?
G. The death of Herod and the return of Barnabas and Saul (vv. 20-25)
v.20 Where are Tyre and Sidon? Herod had control over these cities through agricultural means. What is a King's chamberlain? Obviously Blastus was influential with the King.
v.21 See Boles p. 196-197 for Josephus quote.
v.22 Herod accepted this praise of the people, exalting him above man.
v.23 Herod's immediate death was a judgement from God. Herod made himself out to be a god. According to secular history Herod lingered for 5 days, a painful and revolting death as intestinal worms consumed him from the inside out.
v.24 Herod ceases to exist, but the word lives on (and grows)!
v.25 Now we pick up with Barnabas and Saul as they leave Jerusalem to return to Antioch with John Mark as their companion. This ends the portion of Acts with Peter as the main character, the emphasis will now shift to Paul.
ADDENDA- Miracles in the book of Acts.
21) The angel frees Peter Acts 12:7-10