Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them. 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
6 Now on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Rise up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.” 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision. 10 And when they had passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now truly I know that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 And when she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate. But she ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 And they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were astounded. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he recounted to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there. Acts 12: 1-19 LSB
Acts 12: 1-19
V. 1 Herod the king - This is the grandson of Herod the Great and the nephew of Herod Antipas, who was also called Herod the Tetrarch, meaning ruler of a quarter. Herod is the name of a family dynasty. Herod the Great tried to kill Jesus as a baby, his son, Herod Antipas, is the one who killed the prophet John the Baptist. Herod Agrippa, much like his Father and uncle, is now persecuting Christians. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.
Steven Ger gives an excellent review of Herod's life - Herod Agrippa I. Jewish history fondly remembers Herod Agrippa I as a real "crowd pleaser." Born in 10 B.C., grandson of Herod the Great and nephew of Herod Antipas, Herod Agrippa achieved a great level of popularity with his Jewish subjects during his seven-year reign. Severely insecure over his Idumean ancestry through his grandfather Herod, Agrippa went to great lengths both to please and appease his Jewish subjects, bending over back-wards to generate their good will. He was especially beloved for moving the capital back to Jerusalem from Caesarea. Agrippa was not yet four years old when his paranoid and bloodthirsty grandfather, Herod the Great, suspecting betrayal, had his own son, Agrippa's father, Aristobulus, executed in 7 B.C.. Thereafter, the young Agrippa was sent away from the royal household in Judea, shipped off to receive an education in Rome. Growing up as a member of the Roman Imperial court, the free-spirited Agrippa became close friends with Gaius, the man who would later become the Roman Emperor, Caligula. Caligula appointed Agrippa king of great portions of greater Israel, excluding Judea and Samaria. He proved such an excellent politician, charmer and smooth operator that Caligula's successor, Claudius, granted Agrippa sovereignty over the territories of Judea and Samaria as well. This consolidated Agrippa's complete dominion over all Israel, restoring to him control of the entirety of the territory over which his grandfather, Herod the Great, had once ruled. Agrippa's reign was one of the few periods when there was no Roman prefect or procurator looking over the shoulder of a Herodian king. Agrippa's untimely death, at fifty-four, occurred in A.D. 44 (Acts 12:23). Three of Agrippa's offspring make cameo appearances in Acts: his daughters, Drusilla (Acts 24:24) and Bernice (Acts 25:13, 23; 26:30) and his son, Agrippa II (Acts 25:13-26:32). (Ibid) - PA
16When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”… Matthew 2: 16-18
…17For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. 18For John had been telling Herod, “ It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” 19So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,… Mark 6: 17-19
V. 2 James the brother of John put to death by the sword - James is one of the early church fathers, part of the inner circle, one of the sons of thunder. What a contrast, this brother goes home early, near the beginning, but the other goes on to be the last to die. Christ told them, if they hated Me they will hate you also.
The final answer to this is found in the sovereign wisdom of God. The issues of life and death rest in the hands of a sovereign God and we will not get the full answer to this question of James's death until we get to glory. James's death, while executed by Herod, was appointed by God (ED: and allowed by God) and what may seem to us as a life cut short was for God a saint come home. Surely, this tells us that in the mind of God death is not as horrible as we think it is. It is not the bitter experience the human mind imagines it to be. (ED: WATCH OUT FOR THIS NEXT STATEMENT MAY SHOCK YOU!) For a Christian, death should be an anticipated event for it means entrance into heaven. We Christians have the promise, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). From the human perspective, James’s death was a tragedy, but from the perspective of a sovereign, supernatural working God, it was a fantastic blessing. God delivered James as much or more than He delivered Peter. (ED: PONDER THAT THOUGHT) He delivered James through death and Peter from death. God reserves the right to do as He pleases, but in the case of James, he was better off than Peter because he was in heaven. (Acts 12:1-25 Supernaturalism and the Church) - PA
Vs. 3-5 When he saw that it pleased the Jews - Of course it did, God had taken one of their chief persecutors, Saul, and regenerated him unto life. Now Herod, who is quite the politician, sees an easy way to make the locals happy, and so he goes after another apostle.
V. 6 Bound with two chains - Peter is in jail awaiting his execution, and not only chained but between 2 guards with more guards on the outside of the jail. It is an impossible situation. Notice Peter's level of concern, he's sleeping.
…7You have filled my heart with more joy than when grain and new wine abound. 8I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4: 7-8
…6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.… Philippians 4: 6-8
Vs. 7-9 But was thinking he was seeing a vision - It would be understandable to question such a reality, chains normally don't fall off, both guards did nothing and they walked past more guards as they left. There is a great spiritual parallel here. We are all bound, dead in our trespasses, slaves to sin when the gospel first approaches us. It even takes a mighty work of God to wake us, to see our chains, and then want to be free.
…13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,… Ephesians 5: 13-15
Vs. 10-11 Now truly I know - The gate opened without human assistance, the angel leaves and now Peter's fog is clearing up. He realizes that he is a freed man, and by no work of his own.
…8We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,… 2 Corinthians 1: 8-10
V. 12 Who was also called Mark - This would be John Mark, who wrote the gospel of Mark, and was the cousin of Barnabas.
He went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark - John (Jewish name) who was also called Mark (Greek name) is the same John Mark who would later go with Barnabas and Saul on the First Missionary Journey and eventually write the Gospel of Mark (See Acts 12:25+ below - cf Acts 13:5, 13; "Barnabas was desirous of taking John called Mark along with them" on the Second Missionary Journey - Acts 15:37–39+). This is the only mention of this specific "Mary" in the New Testament, so we don't know that much about her.
Mary the mother of John - Mary, was the mother of John Mark and one of many Jewish women named for Miriam, the sister of Moses. Mary must have been a woman of some means as she was the owner of a house in Jerusalem which was large enough for followers of Jesus to meet. Her son, John Mark, was the cousin of Barnabas, so Mary must have been Barnabas' aunt (Col 4:10). (How many Marys are in the Bible?)
…9With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. 10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him. 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.… Colossians 4: 9-11
Vs. 13-14 She did not open the gate - She recognized him, but was so happy that she left him out in the open. This is definitely a home of hospitality and probably the way much of the church met, in homes, in secret, in the catacombs of Rome. It's hard to grasp some of this from modern America, where there are many buildings to choose from, but it is still, most often, the small places where the word is kept most soundly. People here worry about programs and entertainment, people then worried about persecution. I have heard missionaries tell stories of people who walk miles through the jungle to meet with Christians in other villages, sitting on stumps or dirt floors, singing, reading God's word, and being blessed by each other's fellowship. They don't have a large projector screen, and they are few in number in comparison to their unbelieving and hostile neighbors, but they have Jesus, Who is enough, and then he adds upon this the wealth of brothers and sisters.
A servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer - Rhoda's name means "Rose." Women can have such beautiful names like Dorcas (Gazelle), Euodia (Sweet Aroma), Syntyche (Good Luck). Vincent writes that "The Jews frequently gave their female children the names of plants and flowers: as Susannah (lily); Esther (myrtle); Tamar (palm-tree). “God, who leaves in oblivion names of mighty conquerors, treasures up that of a poor girl, for his church in all ages” (Quesnel)." - PA
Vs. 15-17 Then he left and went to another place - Probably for their safety. A shepherd would not put Christ's sheep in any danger unnecessarily. It is interesting that James of the twelve has been martyred, yet now we have James, the brother of Jesus.
He was called “James the Just” and later nicknamed “camel knees” because he constantly prayed on his knees (from Hegesippus, quoted by Eusebius). (Ed: O, if all God's people had callused knees! Amen!)
James did not become a believer until after the resurrection (cf. Mark 3:21; John 7:5). Jesus appeared to him personally after the resurrection (cf. 1 Cor. 15:7).
He was present in the upper room with the disciples (cf. Acts 1:14) and was possibly also there when the Spirit came on Pentecost.
He was married (cf. 1 Cor. 9:5).
Paul refers to him as a pillar (possibly an apostle, cf. Gal. 1:19) but was not one of the Twelve (cf. Gal. 2:9; Acts 12:17; 15:13ff).
In Antiquities of the Jews, 20:9:1, Josephus says that he was stoned in A.D. 62 by orders from the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin, while another tradition (the second century writers, Clement of Alexandria or Hegesippus) says he was pushed off the wall of the Temple.
For many generations after Jesus’ death a relative of Jesus was appointed leader of the church in Jerusalem.
He wrote the NT book of James. - PA Quoting Utley
Vs. 18-19 He examined the guards - It would be more than a little unlikely that so many layers of security had failed. But, since no one who was responsible could give a good account, Herod sentences them to death. There's really no good answer here, it is beyond the forensics of the time, beyond observation. They were there, but they can't testify to what they didn't see happen, which would lead one to believe they were sleeping, which would be incompetence. But then there is the problem of the chains, the doors, and the other soldiers, which would lead one to believe there was intent, maybe a pay off.
Barclay - When Peter escaped, the soldiers were led away to execution because it was the law that, if a criminal escaped, the guard should suffer the penalty the prisoner would have suffered. - PA
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