Acts 12:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:6

Was about to bring for would have brought, A.V.; guards for the keepers, A.V. What a picture we have here! The dungeon; the double chain fastening the prisoner to two soldiers; the other two soldiers of the quaternion keeping watch at the first and second ward, or station; the iron gate securely fastened; the population of the great city expecting with the morning light to be gratified with the blood of the victim of their bigotry; the king having made his arrangements for the imposing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth - When he was about to bring him to be put to death.The same night - That is, the night preceding. The intention of Herod was to bring him out as soon as the Passover was over; but during the night which immediately preceded the day in which he intended to bring him to punishment, Peter was rescued.Peter was sleeping - Here is an instance of remarkable composure, and an illustration of the effects of peace of conscience and of confidence in God. It... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 12:5-6

Acts 12:5-6. Peter therefore Till the day of his execution came; was kept in prison Under the continual guard of the fore-mentioned soldiers. But prayer without ceasing (The original expression, προσευχη εκτενης , signifies, earnest and importunate, as well as continual prayer;) was made of the church for him That is, for his deliverance, yet when their prayer was answered, they could scarce believe it, Acts 12:15. But why had they not prayed for James’s deliverance also?... 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 12:6

would have brought = was about to bring. the same = that. sleeping . Greek. koimaomai. App-171 . keepers = guards. See Acts 5:23 . kept = were keeping. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 12:6

And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison.PETER'S CONDITION WAS A TYPE OF SINMany of the old commentators allegorized this remarkable episode; and despite the fact that the New Testament does not refer to it as an allegory, there are undeniably elements of an astounding allegory in this event. Just as Paul allegorized the history of Abraham and his two wives in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:6

6. And when Herod would have brought him forth—"was going to bring him forth." the same night—but a few hours before the intended execution. Thus long were the disciples kept waiting; their prayers apparently unavailing, and their faith, as would seem from the sequel, waxing feeble. Such, however, is the "law" of God's procedure ( :- and see on :-). Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains—Roman prisoners had a chain fastened at one end to the wrist of their fight hand,... 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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 12:1-24

4. The persecution of the Jerusalem church 12:1-24The saints in Jerusalem not only suffered as a result of the famine, they also suffered because Jewish and Roman governmental opposition against them intensified as time passed. Luke recorded the events in this section to illustrate God’s supernatural protection and blessing of the church, even though the Christians suffered increased persecution, and Israel’s continued rejection of her Messiah. Looked at another way, this section confirms... read more

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