Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 12
Verse 1. About that time - So wisely did God mix rest and persecution in
due time and measure succeeding each other. Herod - Agrippa;
the latter was his Roman, the former his Syrian name. He was the
grandson of Herod the Great, nephew to Herod Antipas, who
beheaded John the Baptist; brother to Herodias, and father to that
Agrippa before whom St. Paul afterward made his defense.
Caligula made him king of the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to
which he afterward added the territories of Antipas. Claudius
made him also king of Judea, and added thereto the dominions of
Lysanias.
Verse
2. James the brother of John - So one of the brothers went to God
the first, the other the last of the apostles.
Verse
3. Then were the days of unleavened bread - At which the Jews
came together from all parts.
Verse
4. Four quaternions - Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and
night.
Verse
5. Continual prayer was made for him - Yet when their prayer was
answered, they could scarce believe it, ver. 15. But why had they
not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death as
soon as apprehended.
Verse
6. Peter was sleeping - Easy and void of fear; between two
soldiers - Sufficiently secured to human appearance.
Verse
7. His chains - With which his right arm was bound to one of the
soldiers, and his left arm to the other.
Verse
8. Gird thyself - Probably he had put off his girdle, sandals, and
upper garment, before he lay down to sleep.
Verse
10. The first and second ward - At each of which doubtless was a
guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord - Without
either Peter or the angel touching it. And they went on through
one street - That Peter might know which way to go. And the
angel departed from him - Being himself sufficient for what
remained to be done.
Verse
11. Now I know of a truth - That this is not a vision, ver. 9.
Verse
12. And having considered - What was best to be done. Many
were gathered together - At midnight.
Verse
13. The gate - At some distance from the house; to hearken - If
any knocked.
Verse
14. And knowing Peter's voice - Bidding her open the door.
Verse
15. They said, Thou art mad - As we say, Sure you are not in your
senses to talk so. It is his angel - It was a common opinion among
the Jews, that every man had his particular guardian angel, who
frequently assumed both his shape and voice. But this is a point
on which the Scriptures are silent.
Verse
17. Beckoning to them - Many of whom being amazed, were
talking together. And he said, Show these things to James - The
brother or kinsman of our Lord, and author of the epistle which
bears his name. He appears to have been a person of considerable
weight and importance, probably the chief overseer of that
province, and of the Church in Jerusalem in particular. He went
into another place - Where he might be better concealed till the
storm was over.
Verse
19. 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.
Verse
20. Having gained Blastus - To their side, they sued for, and
obtained peace - Reconciliation with Herod. And so the Christians
of those parts were, by the providence of God, delivered from
scarcity. Their country was nourished - Was provided with, corn,
by the king's country - Thus Hiram also, king of Tyre, desired of
Solomon food or corn for his household, 1 Kings v, 9.
Verse
21. And on a set day - Which was solemnized yearly, in honour of
Claudius Cesar; Herod, arrayed in royal apparel - In a garment so
wrought with silver, that the rays of the rising sun striking upon,
and being reflected from it, dazzled the eyes of the beholders. The
people shouted, It is the voice of a God - Such profane flattery
they frequently paid to princes. But the commonness of a wicked
custom rather increases than lessens the guilt of it.
Verse
23. And immediately - God does not delay to vindicate his injured
honour; an angel of the Lord smote him - Of this other historians
say nothing: so wide a difference there is between Divine and
human history! An angel of the Lord brought out Peter; an angel
smote Herod. Men did not see the instruments in either case.
These were only known to the people of God. Because he gave
not glory to God - He willingly received it to himself, and by this
sacrilege filled up the measure of his iniquities. So then
vengeance tarried not. And he was eaten by worms, or vermin -
How changed! And on the fifth day expired in exquisite torture.
Such was the event! The persecutor perished, and the Gospel grew
and multiplied.
Verse
25. Saul returned - To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark - The
son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,)
who was sister to Barnabas.
Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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