Ac 12:1
12:1 Now {1} about that time {a} Herod the king stretched forth
     [his] hands to vex certain of the church.

 (1) God gives his Church peace only for a short time.
     (a) This name Herod was common to all those that come from
         the stock of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was
         Magnus: but he that is spoken of here was nephew to
         Herod the great, son to Aristobulus, and father to the
         Agrippa who is spoken of afterwards.

Ac 12:2
12:2 And he {b} killed James the brother of John with the sword.

     (b) Violently, his cause not being heard at all.

Ac 12:3
12:3 {2} And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
     further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of
     unleavened bread.)

 (2) It is an old habit of tyrants to attain the favour of the
     wicked, with the blood of the godly.

Ac 12:4
12:4 {3} And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in
     prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers
     to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to
     the people.

 (3) The tyrants and wicked make a gallows for themselves even
     then when they do most according to their own will and
     fantasy.

Ac 12:5
12:5 {4} Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made
     without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

 (4) The prayers of the godly overturn the counsel of tyrants,
     obtain angels from God, break the prison, unloose the
     chains, put Satan to flight, and preserve the Church.

Ac 12:7
12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a
     light shined in the {c} prison: and he smote Peter on the
     side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his
     chains fell off from [his] hands.

     (c) Literally, "habitation"; (Ed.).

Ac 12:12
12:12 {5} And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the
      house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark;
      where many were gathered together praying.

 (5) Holy meetings in the nights of both men and women (when
     they cannot take place in the day time) are allowable by
     the example of the apostles.

Ac 12:13
12:13 {6} And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel
      {d} came to hearken, named Rhoda.

 (6) We obtain more from God than we dare well hope for.
     (d) Out of the place where they were assembled, but not out
         of the house.

Ac 12:17
12:17 {7} But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold
      their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought
      him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things
      unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went
      into another place.

 (7) We may sometimes give place to the rage of the wicked, but
     yet only in such a way that our diligence which ought to be
     used in God's business does not slacken in the least.

Ac 12:18
12:18 {8} Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir
      among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

 (8) Evil counsel in the end results in the hurt of those who
     devised it.

Ac 12:20
12:20 {9} And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and
      Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having
      made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired
      peace; because their country was nourished by the king's
      [country].

 (9) A miserable and shameful example of what happens to the
     enemies of the Church.

Ac 12:22
12:22 {10} And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the
      voice of a god, and not of a man.

 (10) The flattery of people makes fools glad.

Ac 12:23
12:23 {11} And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him,
      because he {e} gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of
      worms, and gave up the ghost.

  (11) God resists the proud.
       (e) Josephus records that this king did not repress the
           flatterer's tongues, and therefore at his death he
           complained and cried out about their empty praise.

Ac 12:24
12:24 {12} But the {s} word of God grew and multiplied.

 (12) Tyrants build up the Church by destroying it.
      (s) Those that heard the word of God.



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