Acts 12:1-17

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:7

An angel for the angel, A.V. (see note on Acts 5:19 ); stood by him for came upon him, A.V. (comp. Luke 2:9 ); cell for prison, A.V.; awoke him for raised him up, A.V. ( ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ) ; rise for arise, A.V. Cell. The word οἴκημα , a dwelling, was used by the Athenians as an euphemism for a prison. It only occurs here in the New Testament, though it is a common Greek word. His chains fell off from his hands , showing that each hand bad been chained to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:7-10

Miraculous deliverances. The series of miracles wrought by our Lord during his ministry, and the miracles associated with the history and work of his apostles, require to be very carefully compared, Sometimes miracles were wrought by the apostles as agents, and sometimes for them as teachers whose ministry it was important to preserve. And yet, when God would secure the deliverance of his imperiled servants, he did not always employ miraculous agencies. Paul and Sirius were imprisoned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:8

He did so for so he did, A.V. Thy garment ( ἱμάτιον ) ; especially the outer garment, which was worn over the χιτὼν , or tunic (see Matthew 9:20 , Matthew 9:21 ; Matthew 14:36 ; Matthew 23:1-39 . 5, etc.). The girding, therefore, applied to the inner garments, and περιβαλοῦ to the cloak which went over them. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:9

Followed for followed him, A.V. and T.R.; he wist for wist, A.V. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:10

And when for when, A.V.; into for unto, A.V. ; its for his, A.V.; straightway for forthwith, A.V. The first and the second ward . The φυλακή , here rendered "ward," may mean either the station where the guard was posted or the guard itself. One street; ῥυμή , as in Acts 9:11 , note. Departed; ἀπέστη , in contrast to ἐπέστη , rendered "stood by" in Acts 9:7 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:11

Truth for surety, A.V.; sent forth for sent, A.V.; delivered for hath delivered, A.V. Peter's recognition of the Lord's hand in sending his angel is exactly echoed in the Collect for Michaelmas Day, "Grant that as thy holy angels always do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succor and defend us on earth." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:12

And were praying for praying, A.V. When he had considered ; better, with Meyer and Alford, when he perceived it, viz. the truth of his deliverance. Mary the mother of John was aunt to Barnabas ( Colossians 4:10 ). If Paul and Barnabas were not in her house at the time (which there is no evidence that they were), it is likely that all the particulars of Peter's escape may have been communicated to Paul by John Mark, and by him repeated to Luke. That they went to the house of Mary... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:13

When he for as Peter, A.V. and T.R.; maid for damsel, A.V.; to answer for to hearken, A.V. ( ὑπακοῦσαι ) . The door of the gate (see Acts 10:17 , note). To hearken or listen seems the best rendering. It is the phrase proper to a doorkeeper, whoso business it is to go to the door and listen when any one knocks, and find out what their business is before opening the door. This is the primary sense of the word; that of answering after listening is a secondary sense. At... read more

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