Acts 12:17 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:6-17

One instance of the manner of Divine working. When we read the "mighty works" of Jesus or of those commissioned by him, whether apostles or angels, it is an easy thing to permit our attention to be diverted from anything else contained in them, under the influence of the fascination of the power which they display. For this very thing is often done, and the moral quality: the moral beauty, and even the moral imitableness of what we call the miracle, is ignored. The loss is as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:17

Brought him forth for brought him, A.V. ; tell for go show, A.V.; to for into, A.V. Beckoning , etc.; κατασείσας τῇ χειρὶ (see Acts 13:16 ; Acts 19:33 ; Acts 21:40 ). It is the action of one having something to say and bespeaking silence while he says it. Unto James . This, of course, is the same James as is mentioned in Galatians 1:19 as "the Lord's brother," and who, in Galatians 2:9 , Galatians 2:12 , and Acts 15:12 and Acts 21:18 , as well as here,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:17

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 might excite the neighboring Jews, and produce danger. Religion is calm and peaceful; and its great scenes and surprising deliverances are rather suited to awe the soul to produce calm, sober, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 12:16-17

Acts 12:16-17 . But Peter continued knocking Though they delayed to open to him; and when At length, several of them, it seems, going out together; they had opened the door, and saw him That it really was he; they were astonished Were filled with wonder and joy, as much as they were just before with sorrow and fear concerning him. But beckoning unto them (many of whom, being amazed, were talking together) to hold their peace That they might hear him relate in what an extraordinary... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 12:1-25

Events in Jerusalem (12:1-25)Back in Jerusalem the church was experiencing much difficulty. The Jews in general were becoming restless concerning the free mixing between Jewish and Gentile Christians, and were angry at the apostles for encouraging it. The governor at that time, Herod Agrippa I (a grandson of Herod the Great), knew it was not wise to let the Jews become too excited. Therefore, in an effort to please them he took action against the apostles by having one of them, James, executed... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 12:17

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 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 12:17

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.The Lord had brought him forth ... An angel, actually, had done this, but he had acted as God's servant; hence it was altogether correct to say that the Lord had done it.Unto James and the brethren ... This is not James the son of Zebedee, already slain by... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 12:17

Acts 12:17. Unto James,— As James the brother of John was dead, Act 12:2 the person here referred to, must have been St. James the Less, the son of Alpheus, who was probably the only apostle then at Jerusalem, except St. Peter. He was in great esteem among the apostles, and wrote the epistle which bears his name. The papists will have it that St. Peter, at this time retiring fromJerusalem, went to Rome, to found a Christian church there; but they say so, only because they apprehend that it... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:17

17. But he, beckoning . . . with his hand to hold their peace—a lively touch this. In the hubbub of joyful and wondering interrogatories there might mingle reflections, thrown out by one against another, for holding out so long against the testimony of Rhoda; while the emotion of the apostle's own spirit would be too deep and solemn to take part in such demonstrations or utter a word till, with his hand, he had signified his wish for perfect silence. Go show these things unto James and to the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 12:1-19

The supernatural deliverance of Peter 12:1-19"Peter’s rescue from prison is an unusually vivid episode in Acts even when simply taken as a story about Peter. Because it is not connected with events in the chapters immediately before and after it, however, it may seem rather isolated and unimportant for Acts as a whole. Yet it becomes more than a vivid account of an isolated miracle when we probe below the surface, for this story is an echo of other stories in Luke-Acts and in Jewish Scripture.... read more