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Selected Verse: Acts 12:19 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 12:19 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
examined the keepers--who, either like the keepers of our Lord's sepulchre, had "shaken and become as dead men" (Mat 28:4), or had slept on their watch and been divinely kept from awaking.
commanded that they should be put to death--Impotent vengeance! |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
He examined the keepers - The soldiers who were entrusted with his custody. Probably only those who had the special care of him at that watch of the night. The word "examine" here means "to inquire diligently, to make investigation." He subjected them to a rigid scrutiny to ascertain the manner of his escape; for it is evident that Herod did not mean to admit the possibility of a miraculous interposition.
Should be put to death - For having failed to keep Peter. This punishment they had a right to expect for having suffered his escape.
And he went down ... - How soon after the escape of Peter he went down to Caesarea, or how long he abode there, is not known. Caesarea was rising into magnificence, and the Roman governors made it often their abode. See the notes on Act 8:40. Compare Act 25:1, Act 25:4. This journey of Herod is related by Josephus (Antiq., book 19, chapter 8, section 2). He says that it was after he had reigned over all Judea for three years.
And there abode - That is, until his death, which occurred shortly after. We do not learn that he made any further inquiry after Peter, or that he attempted any further persecutions of the Christians. The men on guard were undoubtedly put to death; and thus Herod used all his power to create the impression that Peter had escaped by their negligence; and this would undoubtedly be believed by the Jews. See Mat 28:15. He might himself, perhaps, have been convinced, however, that the escape was by miracle, and afraid to attempt any further persecutions; or the affairs of his government might have called off his attention to other things; and thus, as in the case of the. "persecution that arose about Stephen," the political changes and dangers might divert the attention from putting Christians to death. See the notes on Act 9:31. Thus, by the providence of God, this persecution, that had been commenced, not by popular tumult, but by royal authority and power, and that was aimed at the very pillars of the church, ceased. The prayers of the church prevailed; and the monarch was overcome, disappointed, bummed, and, by divine judgment, soon put to death. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Examined (ἀνακρίνας)
See on Luk 23:14; and compare Act 4:9.
Put to death (ἀπαχθῆναι)
Lit., led away; i.e., to execution. A technical phrase like the Latin ducere. Compare Mat 27:31.
Abode (διέτριβεν)
Originally, to rub away, or consume; hence, of time, to spend. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Herod commanded them to be put to death - And thus the wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down from Judea - With shame, for not having brought forth Peter, according to his promise. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Commanded that they should be put to death - He believed, or pretended to believe, that the escape of Peter was owing to the negligence of the keepers: jailers, watchmen, etc., ordinarily suffered the same kind of punishment which should have been inflicted on the prisoner whose escape they were supposed to have favored.
He went down from Judea to Caesarea - How soon he went down, and how long he stayed there, we know not. |
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: