CHAPTER 12
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. Acts 12:1
Since this King Herod makes his first appearance here, it would be good for us to understand exactly who the king is. He is known in history as Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great. Of course, he is also related to all the other Herods. Agrippa’s father was Aristobulus and his mother was Mariamme, a Maccabean princess. Unfortunately, his father was murdered by Herod the Great. This resulted in Agrippa being sent to Rome, where he was brought up with future emperors. When he became of age, his lifelong friend and now Emperor Gaius (Caligula) granted him the former territories of Herod Philip. These territories were (Batanea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis), and later the tetrarchy of Lysanias. Along with these territories he was given the title of “king.”
His kingdom continued to grow. Eventually Emperor Claudius, also his youthful friend, awarded him the areas of Judea and Samaria.1 Through Agrippa’s influence with Rome, he helped bring about the banishment of his uncle Herod Antipas and was awarded his uncle’s territory of Galilee and Peraea. At this point, he was ruler over all the territory once held by his grandfather, Herod the Great.2
We have to note however that the Herod family was rotten to the core. Herod the Great had tried his best to kill the baby Jesus. Herod Antipas had murdered John the Baptist and was involved in the trial of Jesus. The Herod family was undoubtedly one of history’s most wicked and depraved families. Herod Agrippa would be no exception. We see him here arresting some of the Christians. This act undoubtedly thrilled the Jewish leaders.
“He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword” (12:2). Up to this time the Twelve had enjoyed a mantle of protection from persecution. Herod quickly changed that and reached out his hand to put the disciple James to death. This was James the son of Zebedee and brother of John. It is important to note that he was a member of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, which included himself, Peter, and John. James and John were likely the youngest members of the apostolic band and apparently they were firebrands. They once wanted to burn down an unfriendly Samaritan village (Lk. 9:51-56). They also came to Jesus on one occasion and asked for the choice seats in the kingdom. Jesus asked if they could drink from his cup of suffering (Matt. 20:20-23; Mk. 10:35-40). By that, he meant sharing in his violent death.3 They assured him that they could.
Here we see that James got to share in that death. He was the first of the disciples to die and his brother John was the last. John died a natural death at a very old age. However, John suffered exile on the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:9). The church father Tertullian relates how on one occasion in Rome, John was plunged into boiling oil and yet he survived miraculously.4 It seems that most of Jesus’ other disciples died as martyrs.
James died by the usual mode of execution for the Romans – by beheading. We have previously noted that the Romans denied the Jews the right of capital punishment. However, since Herod was a king he had that right.5 Beheading though was considered a punishment too violent and controversial for the Jews.6
It is interesting that after the death of James there was no move to appoint another person to take his place, as in the case of Judas (1:15-26). As long as the gospel was going primarily to the Jews it may have seemed necessary for the Twelve to be complete in number. After the stoning of Stephen, and as the gospel began to go out to Gentiles, this may have seemed less important.7 Also, while Judas had died as an apostate, James died as a faithful martyr.
This account at first seems out of place, since Luke is so intent on chronicling the rapid expansion of the church. Suddenly there is the death of one apostle and the imprisonment of another, which on the surface seems to put a damper on the expansion. However, Luke is a realist, knowing full well that there would be cycles of expansion, opposition, growth, shrinkage, advance and retreat in church history.8 Trapp adds, “Afflictions seldom come single…Job’s messengers tread one upon the heels of another.” 9
“When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread” (12:3). Herod Agrippa was from an Idumean (Edomite) background but his mother Mariamme was of the Maccabean or Hasmonean line as we have said. The Jewish people had despised Herod the Great because he was an Idumean. Agrippa was determined to be accepted by the Jews and he would do whatever he could to make that happen. He often attended the temple worship and was a friend with the Pharisees. When he perceived that the killing of James made the Jews happy, he wasted no time in arresting Peter, with the idea of killing him also. It was the Festival of Unleavened Bread which lasted a full week. For that festival the Jews got rid of the leaven in their houses. No doubt they considered James, as well as the other disciples, as an evil leaven in their midst. Still, Agrippa would have to wait until the festival ended for his next murder. Trapp says, “It is an old trick of tyrants to curry favor with the wicked, by shedding the blood of the godly.” 10
“After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover” (12:4). The disciples had probably gained some fame for escaping prison (5:17-20), so Agrippa was taking no chances with Peter. The four squads of soldiers would total 16. While it was not unusual for a prisoner to be handcuffed to one soldier, Peter was handcuffed to one on either side. Romans divided the night into four watches of three hours each, so the soldiers would be relieved every three hours.11 Two soldiers were chained to Peter and another two manned the gates. All this precaution made escape physically impossible. To make matters worse, Peter was probably being held in the massive Fortress of Antonia adjoining the temple. Marshall says of this, “…though the word of God is not fettered, its servants may well have to suffer and be bound (2 Tim. 2:9).” 12
PETER’S STRANGE EXPERIENCE
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5
The church was not just praying for Peter, but they were praying fervently and intently for him. The Greek word used here is ektenēs and it conveys the idea of “strained” prayer.13 Wiersbe says, “Never underestimate the power of a praying church!” 14 In James 5:16 we read: “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” That power is greatly multiplied when Christians pray fervently together.
“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance” (12:6). Tomorrow was execution day but we see Peter sleeping soundly, although he is chained by both hands. It reminds us of Psalm 127:2, “…for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
If there ever was a hopeless case, this was it. There was absolutely no chance for Peter to escape and he was facing certain death by beheading in the morning. What his persecutors did not know was that Peter’s work on earth was not finished. He would still help the church navigate the difficult circumcision problem in the Acts 15 conference. He would still minister at Antioch and various places in the northern areas of Asia Minor. He would write two epistles of the New Testament and finally he would assist Mark in writing that gospel. Then and only then, would he become a martyr under the hand of Nero. Tradition says he finally asked to be crucified upside down, since he felt unworthy to be crucified like his Master.
Over the centuries preachers have used this dismal setting to picture the plight of the unsaved. Before we knew Christ we were chained by sin and held deep in the devil’s prison. There was absolutely no hope of escape and we were doomed to an eternal death. Then Jesus came to us and his light shone round about us. We were delivered from our chains, the prison doors were opened wide, and we were set free.
“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists” (12:7). Instantly, the dark dungeon was filled with heavenly light. The angel of the Lord appeared and struck Peter on the side, wakening him. There is something we notice about angels in the Bible. They are all business and they seem to be in quite a hurry. No doubt the reason for this is that they are working in what is for now enemy territory. They are in a hurry to get their task done before Satan has time to mobilize his forces. Often today we hear supposed angel stories where the heavenly visitors are very casual and full of fun. We must not believe such tales. With this angel’s appearance, all Peter’s chains fell off beginning one of the great miracles in the New Testament. No doubt, even the soldier’s chains also fell off too but they were far too groggy to know it. Wiersbe remarks, “Imagine waking up to a miracle and having an angel for your alarm clock…” 15
If we only had eyes to see, the angel of the Lord is always camping about us in order to deliver us (Psa. 34:7). God has assigned angels to minister to us and to help us in our Christian walk (Heb. 1:14). Unfortunately, these angels are unseen. If we only had eyes to see at the times of our difficulty, we might realize that the mountains are filled with heavenly chariots of fire (2 Ki. 6:17).
“Then the angel said to him, ‘Put on your clothes and sandals.’ And Peter did so. ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,’ the angel told him” (12:8). No doubt Peter had shed his outer garment or cloak in order to try and gain some comfort. He now had to put it on, gird himself and put on his sandals. He had to be ready to travel.
“Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision” (12:9). Peter may have been thinking “My, what a wonderful dream!” However, it was not a dream but reality. “They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him” (12:10). Peter had experienced something wonderful. His chains had fallen off and he had walked right past the guards. Yet, he was still in prison and there was before him that huge iron gate. Sometimes, even in our victories, we focus too much on the big iron gate, or that huge problem that seems insurmountable.16 No doubt, much to Peter’s amazement, the iron gate swung open of its own accord and he was free. The Greek word for opening by itself is automatē, from which root we get “automatic” today. The angel continued to guard him until he was safe and then the heavenly visitor left.
This account is very similar to one experienced by the Indian saint Sundar Singh.
By order of the chief lama of a Tibetan community he was thrown into a dry well, the cover of which was securely locked. Here he was left to die, like many others before him, whose bones and rotting flesh lay at the bottom of the well. On the third night, when he had been calling to God in prayer, he heard someone unlocking the cover of the well and removing it. Then a voice spoke, telling him to take hold of the rope that was being lowered. He did so, and was glad to find a loop at the bottom of the rope in which he could place his foot, for his arm had been injured before he was thrown down. He was then drawn up, the cover was replaced and locked, but when he looked around to thank his rescuer, he could find no trace of him…the lama declared that someone must have got hold of the key and let him out, but when search was made for the key, it was found attached to the lama’s own girdle.17
“Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen’” (12:11). Perhaps it was the cool night air on his face that finally brought him to full consciousness. He suddenly realized that it was not all a dream but it was reality. He was free from Herod’s wicked plan!
PETER FLEES TO MARY’S HOME
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Acts 12:12
Peter knew just where to go and that was to the house of Mary and her son Mark. This house had played a central role in the early redemption story. No doubt Mary was wealthy and her home was large and comfortable. It was big enough that the earliest church could assemble there. The scholars Jamieson, Fausset & Brown state: “She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution.” 18
Her son, young Mark, who would later write the gospel under his name, probably had many experiences with the early church that he would remember quite well. Near the end of Peter’s life a much older Mark would use Peter’s notes and perhaps his help to write his gospel. On this occasion the house was filled with saints who were praying urgently for Peter’s release. This little snapshot may help us see that early Christians often prayed at night.19 We need to be aware that by now the church in Jerusalem was at this time made up of thousands of people who met in many different homes. More than likely there were numerous prayer meetings going on simultaneously that night.
“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’” (12:13-14). Barker and Kohlenberger remark “…The unfolding scene is one of confusion and joyful humor, which must have led to hilarity every time it was repeated among the early believers…” 20 This large house may have been entered through a vestibule or porch. When there was a knock at the door the servant Rhoda went to answer. Upon seeing Peter she was filled with such joy that she failed to open the door but ran and excitedly told the other believers. Meyer says of Rhoda (whose name means “rose”): “Her portrait has charmed every generation. It is so lifelike and natural…How often our deliverances seem too good to be true!” 21
“‘You’re out of your mind,’ they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, ‘It must be his angel.’ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (12:15-16). We simply have to pause a minute to get this incredible picture. Here is a group of Christians in an hour of urgent need praying long into the night for the release of Peter. Suddenly the servant girl interrupts their prayers with the joyful news that Peter is at the door. We would expect an excited chorus of “Praise Jesus!” However, these faithful prayer warriors tell the girl that she has lost her mind. Sometimes it is almost more difficult to believe a miracle after it has happened than before it happens. What does this say about that glorious First Century faith? Maybe it was shaky at times just like our faith sometimes is today.
They gave Rhoda the lame excuse that perhaps the person at the door was Peter’s angel. The Jews believed that a guardian angel was assigned to each individual at birth (Mt. 18:10; Heb. 1:14).22 All this seemed to be ridiculous as Peter kept pounding at the door. No doubt he was quite concerned that he may awake a neighbor and give away his presence.
“Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. ‘Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,’ he said, and then he left for another place” (12:17). Once inside, Peter related all the information of his miraculous escape to this dumbfounded crowd of saints. Then he requested that they tell James the Lord’s half-brother, who had now taken the lead in the church. James was probably in attendance at another of the prayer meetings, but being the leader, he now may well have been in hiding.23
With this, we are told that Peter left for another place. We are not given any indication as to where he went. Wiersbe says, “Peter walks off the pages of the book of Acts to make room for Paul and the story of his ministry among the Gentiles…” 24 We know that he visited Antioch, as is recorded in Galatians 2:11-21. We also see him briefly in the Jerusalem Conference of Acts 15.
AFTERMATH OF THE JAIL BREAK
In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. Acts 12:18-19
We can only imagine the pandemonium that must have taken place at the prison. The soldiers were on guard and the doors were solidly locked but Peter was not inside. Herod Agrippa was furious at being deceived and mocked. Chrysostom notes how Agrippa despised being mocked and deceived Just as his grandfather did when the wise men deceived him.25 It seems that Agrippa took his anger out on the soldiers. According to Roman law if a soldier allowed a prisoner to escape that soldier must suffer the penalty that the prisoner would have suffered. In this case the prisoner was to suffer death.26 The soldiers were thus rounded up and quickly executed. For certain, the last four guards were executed and it is entirely possible that with Herod’s rage all 16 were executed. Sometimes it seems strange that the righteous are delivered while others perish. God once said of Israel, “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life” (Isa. 43:4).
Stott comments here, “Although Herod’s victim had escaped his clutches, Herod himself was still at large…” 27 Like a dog with tail between his legs Herod quickly vacated Jerusalem and headed for Caesarea.
THE DEATH OF HEROD AGRIPPA
He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. Acts 12:20
Now that Agrippa had retreated to Caesarea, he settled down to the mundane affairs of his kingdom. The formerly Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon were in some kind of conflict with Herod. It seems they were anxious to settle the conflict because they were heavily dependent upon Herod’s territory of Galilee for their food supply. This was a situation very similar to former times as reflected in 1 Kings 5:11, Ezekiel 27:17 and Ezra 3:7.28
It appears that they might have bribed the king’s chamberlain to intervene for them with Herod. With his help they managed to get an audience with the king.
“On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.” They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’” (12:21-22). The historian Josephus sheds considerable light on this event. He says that on the second day of a particular celebration to honor Caesar, Herod came to the theatre dressed in a silver garment. As the sun arose on the assembled multitude, its rays began to reflect off his robes in a wonderfully resplendent manner. The people cried out to him, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.” Josephus notes that the king did not rebuke them for such impious flattery.
Very quickly the king had a severe pain in his belly upon which he remarked to his friends, “I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life.” With this his pain became extremely violent and he was carried into the palace. Herod endured this great pain for five days after which he died at the age of 54 (Josephus, Bk. 19, Ch. 8, Sec. 2). This is one occasion when the wrath of God came swiftly on the one who killed his apostle and claimed God’s own glory. God says, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isa. 42:8).
“Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (12:23). With Josephus we have the event told from the historian’s point of view. However, with this verse it is told from heaven’s point of view. God sent an angel to strike this evil man down. God afflicted him with worms that destroyed him.
Some modern commentators have remarked concerning the affliction with worms. Stott says that intestinal worms are a common problem in Asia and that these worms can form a ball obstructing the intestines.29 Barker and Kohlenberger relate that roundworms can grow from ten to sixteen inches in length as they feed on intestinal nutrients. Such an infection ends in severe pain with copious vomiting and ultimate death.30
Tourists to Israel can today sit in that same large amphitheater that faces the Mediterranean. It is in excellent condition and is still used for some performances. It is not at all difficult to imagine the sun coming up and its rays striking the silver garment of Herod, who would probably have been seated on his throne at its center stage. They say today that Israel is the “Fifth Gospel.” Four gospels one can read anywhere in the world but this gospel can only be read while one is in Israel.
“But the word of God continued to spread and flourish” (12:24). Wiersbe says here: “Luke is accomplishing the purpose of his book and showing us how the church spread throughout the Roman world from its small beginnings in Jerusalem…At the beginning of Acts 12, Herod seemed to be in control, and the church was losing the battle. But at the end of the chapter, Herod is dead and the church – very much alive – is growing
rapidly!” 31
“When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark” (12:25). There is a slight problem in chronology as Luke here picks up the return of Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch. It is generally thought by commentators that the relief mission from Antioch occurred around AD 46, at the height of the Judean famine, but we have historical proof that Herod died in AD 44. The events seem to be chronologically reversed. “We must remember that ancient historians frequently grouped their materials without always being concerned about chronology…” 32 Luke is weaving together an important account of the gospel’s spread rather than writing history in a chronological fashion.