Acts 12 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

In this chapter we have the story, I. Of the martyrdom of James the apostle, and the imprisonment of Peter by Herod Agrippa, who now reigned as king in Judea, ver. 1-4. II. The miraculous deliverance of Peter out of prison by the ministry of an angel, in answer to the prayers of the church for him, ver. 6-19. III. The cutting off of Herod in the height of his pride by the stroke of an angel, the minister of God's justice (ver. 20-23); and this was done while Barnabas and Saul were at Jerusalem, upon the errand that the church of Antioch sent them on, to carry their charity; and therefore in the close we have an account of their return to Antioch, ver. 24, 25.

The Martyrdom of James; Peter's Imprisonment.

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Acts 12 — OverviewActs 12 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeActs 12:1, King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter; whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church; Acts 12:20, Herod in his pride taking to himself the honour due to God, is…Acts 12:1-4Acts 12:1-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleEver since the conversion of Paul, we have heard no more of the agency of the priests in persecuting the saints at Jerusalem; perhaps that wonderful change wrought upon him, and the disappointment it gave to…Acts 12:1Acts 12:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryPut for stretched, A.V.; afflict for vex, A.V. The phrase, About that time, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20…Acts 12:1-19Acts 12:1-19 · The Pulpit CommentaryHerodian persecution of the Church. Connection of events showing the working of Divine providence. After Stephen's murder, Caligula persecuted the Jews; hence the diversion of their enmity coincident with conversion of…Acts 12:1-25Acts 12:1-25 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION Acts 12:1-25Acts 12:1-25 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe 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…

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