Acts 12:1
HEROD; Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, mentioned in Matthew 2:1. VEX; trouble, persecute.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEROD; Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, mentioned in Matthew 2:1. VEX; trouble, persecute.... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES; one of the sons of Zebedee, Matthew 4:21, called James the greater, or senior, to distinguish him from James the less, or younger, who was the son of Alpheus. Matthew 10:3; MARK 15:40. No degree of piety or usefulness can always save Christians from persecution, or from sudden and violent dea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD; the passover. Exodus 12:12-17; Luke 22:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR QUATERNIONS; four companies of four soldiers each; making, in all, sixteen. One company guarded him three hours, and was then relieved by another. EASTER; the passover. Easter is supposed to have been originally the name of a heathen feast, which occurred in the month of April. It was afterwar... [ Continue Reading ]
In all seasons of trial the people of God have an unfailing support. To him they may apply, with full assurance that he deeply sympathizes in their trials, and in the best time and way will grant them all needed aid.... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM; was about to bring him. SAME NIGHT; the night before the day of his intended execution. BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS; each wrist was chained, after the Roman manner, to the wrist of the adjacent soldier.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CHAINS FELL; in a miraculous way.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD THYSELF; it was then customary to put a girdle around the body when about to walk. SANDALS; these covered the soles of the feet, and were fastened by strings or straps. THY GARMENT; the mantle, or outer garment.... [ Continue Reading ]
WIST NOT; knew not. THAT IT WAS TRUE; that it was a real event, as distinguished from a vision.... [ Continue Reading ]
WARD; this word generally means a prison, but here it means the first and second guard, who seem to have been prevented in a supernatural way from seeing him. IRON GATE; which led out of the prison to the city. OF HIS OWN ACCORD; of itself, without human aid.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS COME TO HIMSELF; became conscious that what had happened was a reality and no vision.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN-MARK; the writer of "The Gospel according to Mark," and the companion of Paul and Barnabas. Verse Acts 12:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
ART MAD; deranged, or bereft of reason. HIS ANGEL; his guardian angel, who they thought had attended him, and come in his form, to make known something concerning him. It is sometimes difficult for Christians to believe the answers of their own prayers, though God has said that he is more ready to... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO JAMES; not James the son of Zebedee, who had been slain. Verse Acts 12:2. He is the same James that is mentioned in Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18; and is generally regarded to have been James the less, the son of Alpheus. In Galatians, Paul names among the apostles seen by him on his first visit to Je... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KEEPERS; those to whose care Peter had been committed. CESAREA; chap Acts 8:40.... [ Continue Reading ]
TYRE AND SIDON; two cities of Phoenicia, on the Mediterranean, north of Cesarea. THE KING'S CHAMBERLAIN; the officer who had the care of his bedchamber. WAS NOURISHED; supplied with grain and other provisions.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE A SHOUT; flattered him with boisterous applause, as if he were more than human. Noisy flattering applause of public speakers is adapted to injure them. It tends to feed their pride, lead them to forget their dependence on God, and prevent them from giving glory to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY; he did not rebuke their impious flattery, but was glad to be called a god, and receive divine honors. Jehovah is a jealous God. Those who claim or consent to receive honors due only to him, or to assume any of his prerogatives, he views with peculiar abhorrence. Yet Jesus Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
GREW AND MULTIPLIED; the gospel was more successful, and the number of believers greatly increased.... [ Continue Reading ]
BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM; they returned to Antioch. THEIR MINISTRY; the service for which they were sent. Chap Acts 11:30.... [ Continue Reading ]