ABOUT THAT TIME] viz. when relief was sent to the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 11:29). The death of Herod (Acts 12:23) fixes the date as 44 a.d. Herod the king] i.e. Herod Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus (Herod the Great's son) and Bernice; born 10 b.c. See art. 'The Dynasty of the Herods.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IMPRISONMENT OF PETER. DEATH OF HEROD 1-19. Persecution of the Church at Jerusalem by Herod. Martyrdom of James the son of Zebedee. Peter's imprisonment and miraculous release. The Church was persecuted (1) by the Sadducees and chief priests, Acts 4:1; Acts 5:17; (2) afterwards by the Pharisees, Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES] i.e. James the Great, son of Zebedee.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR QUATERNIONS] four parties of four soldiers each, relieving one another at intervals. Easter] i.e. the Passover.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT CEASING] RV 'earnestly.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRISON] RV 'the-cell.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECOND WARD] i.e the second guard of soldiers. And they went out] D adds, 'and went down the seven steps' (probably an authentic detail).... [ Continue Reading ]
MARY] This Mary, mother of Mark, and aunt of Barnabas, was a widow of considerable wealth, as her style of living testifies. Her house had a gateway into the courtyard (not a 'door,' as AV), which was kept by a portress. There was room within for the Church to worship (Acts 12:12). Many suppose that... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ANGEL] They thought that Peter's guardian angel had assumed his voice and appearance: see on Matthew 18:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO JAMES, AND TO THE BRETHREN] The meeting in Mary's house was clearly an unofficial one. Observe that Peter recognises James (i.e. the Lord's brother) as the head of the local Church of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
Tyre and Sidon obtained their corn and provisions from Palestine. Hence when a dispute arose (perhaps over some commercial or tariff question), Herod forbade the exportation of corn to Tyre and Sidon. Famine prices prevailed, and the cities were obliged to come to terms. They 'persuaded' Blastus (AV... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH OF HEROD AGRIPPA I, 44 a.d. Josephus's account of Herod's death, which is quite independent, confirms St. Luke's (see 'Ant.' 19.8).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL] RV 'an angel.' This is, of course, the Christian interpretation of the incident. No angelic appearance is to be assumed.... [ Continue Reading ]
So signal a judgment upon a persecutor was an indication of the righteousness of the Christian cause. It is a remarkable fact that most of the early persecutors perished miserably. ACTS 12:25 TO ACTS 13:3. Separation of Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, 47 a.d.... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM] the best reading is 'returned to Jerusalem,' i.e. to fetch Mark to Antioch.... [ Continue Reading ]