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Acts 12 KJV

Peter's Miraculous Escape

Historical Narrative 4 min 25 verses 662 words Luke peter ร—9 angel ร—7 herod ร—6 prison ร—5 gate ร—4

Acts Chapter 12: Peter's Miraculous Escape

The account of Peter's deliverance occurs during Passover (rendered 'Easter' in the KJV), creating a deliberate typological echo of the Exodus where an angel leads God's people out of bondage at night past sleeping guards.

N1๐Ÿ”—ow about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2๐Ÿ”— And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3๐Ÿ”— And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4๐Ÿ”— 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.

5๐Ÿ”— Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6๐Ÿ”— And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7๐Ÿ”— And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8๐Ÿ”— And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9๐Ÿ”— And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10๐Ÿ”— When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

11๐Ÿ”— And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12๐Ÿ”— 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.

13๐Ÿ”— And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

14๐Ÿ”— And when she knew Peterโ€™s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15๐Ÿ”— And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

16๐Ÿ”— But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

17๐Ÿ”— 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.

18๐Ÿ”— Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

19๐Ÿ”— And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

20๐Ÿ”— And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the kingโ€™s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the kingโ€™s country.

21๐Ÿ”— And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

22๐Ÿ”— And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

23๐Ÿ”— And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

24๐Ÿ”— But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25๐Ÿ”— And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Herod the king โ€” grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. He at this time ruled over all his father's dominions. PALEY has remarked the accuracy of the historian here.โ€ฆ

Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Acts 12 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Persecution of the church by herod agrippa i--martyrdom of james and miraculous deliverance of peter; Herod's miserable end--growing success of the gospel--barnabas and saul return to antioch.

1-3
Herod the king โ€” grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. He at this time ruled over all his father's dominions. PALEY has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. For thirty years before this there was no king at Jerusalem exercising supreme authority over Judea, nor was there ever afterwards, save during the three last years of Herod's life, within which the transactions occurred.
2
killed James... with the sword โ€” beheaded him; a most ignominious mode of punishment, according to the Jews. Blessed martyr! Thou hast indeed "drunk of thy Lord's cup, and hast been baptized with his baptism." (See on Mr 10:38-40.) A grievous loss this would be to the Church; for though nothing is known of him beyond what we read in the Gospels, the place which he had as one of the three whom the Lord admitted to His closest intimacy would lead the Church to look up to him with a reverence and affection which even their enemies would come to hear of. They could spring only upon one more prized victim; and flushed with their first success, they prevail upon Herod to seize him also.
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Chapter Context

Did You Know?

1

The account of Peter's deliverance occurs during Passover (rendered 'Easter' in the KJV), creating a deliberate typological echo of the Exodus where an angel leads God's people out of bondage at night past sleeping guards.

2

James becomes the first apostolic martyr, fulfilling Christ's specific prophecy to the sons of Zebedee in Mark 10:39 that they would 'drink of the cup' he drank, while Peter's rescue underscores the selective mystery of divine providence.

3

Herod Agrippa's death by being 'eaten of worms' matches Josephus's independent account in Antiquities 19.8, where the king is stricken with abdominal pain in Caesarea after accepting divine honors, confirming the narrative's historical precision.

4

Rhoda's failure to open the gate despite recognizing Peter's voice, combined with the praying church's initial disbelief, exposes the ironic gap between fervent intercession and actual expectation of miraculous intervention.

5

The self-opening iron gate (v. 10) and the angel's sudden departure once Peter is 'in the street' emphasize that divine aid operates only up to the point of human responsibility, after which Peter must act on his own initiative.