Acts 12:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:1-25

The world and the Church. There is, perhaps, no passage in Holy Scripture which contrasts more sharply the principles of the world and of the Church respectively, and the practice flowing from those principles, than the chapter before us. The results of each stand out no less sharply defined. I. THE WORLDLY PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE . Not right, or truth, or justice, but sell seeking policy; to gain some selfish end without regard to the will of God or the welfare of man; the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:1-25

The strength and weakness of Christian discipleship. These verses bring out very strikingly the fact that there is both power and weakness in us who are the followers of Christ. We see it— I. IN APOSTOLIC FUNCTIONS . The apostles of our Lord were invested by their Divine Master with unusual powers. The Holy Ghost descended upon them and conferred great gifts on them (see Acts 5:15 , Acts 5:16 ; Acts 9:31-41 ). Peter was the chief channel through which this Divine efficacy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:1-25

The persecution at Jerusalem. I. THE PUTTING TO DEATH OF JAMES , AND THE SEIZURE OF PETER . The narrative of the former event is short and dry. But, remarks a commentator, whatever the reason of this may be, it is certain that the Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration this history was given, manifested a peculiar wisdom in this very brevity. The holy silence is a sign to us that that which is highest and most pleasing to God is not precisely that of which men love to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:2

James , the son of Zebedee, or James the Elder , to whom, with his brother John, our Lord gave the surname of Boanerges (which is a corruption of שׁגֶדֶ ינֵבְ ), sons of thunder. Nothing is recorded of him in the Acts but his presence in the upper room at Jerusalem after the Ascension ( Acts 1:13 ), and this his martyrdom, which was the fulfillment of our Lord's prediction in Matthew 20:23 . His being singled out by Herod for death in company with Peter is rather an indication... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:1

Now about that time - That is, during the time that the famine existed, or the time when Barnabas and Saul went up to Jerusalem. This was probably about the fifth or sixth year of the reign of Claudius, not far from 47 ad.Herod the king - This was Herod Agrippa. The Syriac so renders it expressly, and the chronology requires us so to understand it. He was a grandson of Herod the Great, and one of the sons of Aristobulus, whom Herod put to death (Josephus, Antiq., 18, 5). Herod the Great left... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:2

And he killed ... - He caused to be put to death with a sword, either by beheading, or piercing him through. The Roman procurators were entrusted with authority over life, though in the time of Pilate the Jews had not this authority.James, the brother of John - This was the son of Zebedee, Matthew 4:21. He is commonly called James the Greater, in contradistinction from James, the son of Alpheus, who is called James the Less, Matthew 10:3. In this manner were the predictions of our Saviour... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 12:1-2

Acts 12:1-2. Now about that time When Saul and Barnabas were preparing to set out to Jerusalem, to carry thither what had been collected by the Christians at Antioch; Herod stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church So wisely did God mix rest and persecution, in due time and measure succeeding each other. This was Herod Agrippa, as the Syriac version expressly names him, the former being his Syrian, and the latter his Roman name. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, nephew... 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 12:1

This chapter is a parenthesis, describing events in A.D. 14. about . Greek. kata. time = season. Herod . Herod Agrippa I. App-109 . stretched forth his hands = put to his hands. Compare Luke 9:62 , same phrase. vex = maltreat. Greek. kakoo. See note on Acts 7:6 . certain . Greek. tis. App-123 . of = of those from the church. App-186 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 12:2

killed . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 . James . App-141 . John . App-141 . The last historical reference to John. sword . Death by the sword was regarded by the Rabbis as particularly disgraceful. read more

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