12:1 Now 1 about that time a Herod the king stretched forth
[his] hands to vex certain of the church.
(1) God gives his Church peace only for a short time.
(a) This name Herod was common to all those that come from
the stock of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was
Magnus: but he that is spoken of here was nephew to
Herod the great, son to Aristobulus, and father to the
Agrippa who is spoken of afterwards.
12:2 And he b killed James the brother of John with the sword.
(b) Violently, his cause not being heard at all.
12:32 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of
unleavened bread.)
(2) It is an old habit of tyrants to attain the favour of the
wicked, with the blood of the godly.
12:43 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.
(3) The tyrants and wicked make a gallows for themselves even
then when they do most according to their own will and
fantasy.
12:54 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made
without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
(4) The prayers of the godly overturn the counsel of tyrants,
obtain angels from God, break the prison, unloose the
chains, put Satan to flight, and preserve the Church.
12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a
light shined in the c prison: and he smote Peter on the
side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his
chains fell off from [his] hands.
(c) Literally, "habitation"; (Ed.).
12:125 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.
(5) Holy meetings in the nights of both men and women (when
they cannot take place in the day time) are allowable by
the example of the apostles.
12:136 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel
d came to hearken, named Rhoda.
(6) We obtain more from God than we dare well hope for.
(d) Out of the place where they were assembled, but not out
of the house.
12:177 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.
(7) We may sometimes give place to the rage of the wicked, but
yet only in such a way that our diligence which ought to be
used in God's business does not slacken in the least.
12:188 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir
among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
(8) Evil counsel in the end results in the hurt of those who
devised it.
12:209 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].
(9) A miserable and shameful example of what happens to the
enemies of the Church.
12:2210 And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the
voice of a god, and not of a man.
(10) The flattery of people makes fools glad.
12:2311 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him,
because he e gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of
worms, and gave up the ghost.
(11) God resists the proud.
(e) Josephus records that this king did not repress the
flatterer's tongues, and therefore at his death he
complained and cried out about their empty praise.
12:2412 But the s word of God grew and multiplied.
(12) Tyrants build up the Church by destroying it.
(s) Those that heard the word of God.
