Acts 12

     The apostle James is put to death by Herod (Agrippa I), and Peter is delivered from the same treatment by an angel of the Lord (for the second time, Acts 5:19ff.).  Herod is struck down by the hand of God for accepting praise due to God.  The praise was insincere, which would have displeased God in any case.  But Herod probably enjoyed it all the more, because it proved his power to humble his enemies.

     12:12.  This house of Mary, the mother of John called Mark, was probably the same safe house where the Last Supper was held.

     12:13-17.  It is interesting that those who were fervently praying (5) for Peter were so amazed when their prayers were actually answered in such a wonderful way.  But of course they had no doubt prayed for James’ release (2), and like Jesus in the garden, they were submissive to God’s will in their prayers.  Even Peter had a hard time believing it even as it was happening (9, 11).  God humbles himself to honor even weak faith. 

     The word angel (15) means messenger in both Hebrew and Greek, and the English puritan William Gouge is probably correct that they meant, “his messenger, or one sent from him.”  (i.e., a human messenger sent from Peter).

     This James (17) is probably the Lord’s brother (Mk.6:3;Gal.1:19).

     12:18-19.  Peter did not test God.  He quickly left Jerusalem, and went to Caesarea.  The guards, as was the Roman practice when a prisoner escaped, were led away to execution.

     12:20-23.  We all bring glory to God one way or the other.   Herod chose to bring glory to God’s justice.  In his case, the worm of death Herod nourished in his bowels could not wait until after he died to destroy him, and is doubtless not finished with him yet (cf. Mark  9:48 from Is.66:24). [Herod died five days later at age 54.]

     12:25.  See 11:29-30.