Acts 12

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 12

1¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.

2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4And 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.

5¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6And 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.

7And, 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

10When 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.

11And 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.

12And 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.

13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door], and saw him, they were astonished.

17But 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.

18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

19And 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.

20¶ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's [country].

21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

22And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.

23And 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.

24But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Herod Agrippa I began persecuting the church, killing James, the brother of John, and imprisoning Peter with the intent to execute him. However, through the fervent prayers of the church, an angel of the Lord miraculously freed Peter from his chains and the heavily guarded prison. Shortly thereafter, Herod was struck down by an angel and died a gruesome death for accepting divine praise, while the word of God continued to spread.

Medium Summary

King Herod Agrippa I initiated a persecution against believers, executing James, the brother of John, by the sword. Seeing this pleased the Jews, he further apprehended Peter during the days of unleavened bread, placing him under strict guard for public execution after Easter. While Peter was imprisoned, the church earnestly prayed for him. On the night before his intended trial, an angel of the Lord appeared, causing Peter's chains to fall off and the prison gates to open miraculously, leading Peter to freedom. Peter, initially thinking it a vision, soon realized his divine deliverance and went to a house where believers were praying, astonishing them. Meanwhile, Herod, enraged by Peter's escape, executed the guards. Later, during a public address where he accepted adulation as a god, Herod was immediately struck by an angel and died, eaten of worms, because he did not give glory to God. Despite these events, the word of God continued to grow and multiply.

Long Summary

King Herod Agrippa I began a period of severe persecution against the nascent Christian church, stretching forth his hands to vex its members. His campaign led to the martyrdom of James, the brother of John, who was killed with the sword. Observing that this act pleased the Jewish populace, Herod proceeded to arrest Peter during the days of unleavened bread, intending to bring him forth for public execution after Easter. Peter was placed in prison under the guard of four quaternions of soldiers, ensuring his secure confinement. However, the church responded to this crisis with unceasing prayer to God for Peter's deliverance. On the very night before Herod planned to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, when an angel of the Lord appeared, filling the prison with light. The angel smote Peter, rousing him, and his chains miraculously fell off. Guided by the angel, Peter dressed himself and followed, passing through the first and second wards, and then the iron gate, which opened of its own accord, before the angel departed. Peter, realizing the reality of his escape, went to the house of Mary, John Mark's mother, where many believers were gathered in prayer. When he knocked, a servant girl named Rhoda recognized his voice but, in her excitement, failed to open the gate, instead running to tell the others, who dismissed her as mad or suggested it was his angel. Upon opening the door, they were astonished to see Peter, who recounted his miraculous release and then departed to another place. The next morning, a great stir arose among the soldiers, and Herod, unable to find Peter, ordered the guards executed. Herod then traveled to Caesarea. Later, on a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, delivered an oration to the people of Tyre and Sidon. The people shouted, proclaiming his voice to be that of a god. Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down for accepting this divine praise without giving glory to God, and he died, eaten of worms. Despite the persecution and the death of its leaders, the word of God continued to grow and multiply, and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.

Core Concepts

  • Persecution of the ChurchHerod Agrippa I initiated a period of severe oppression against the early Christian community, targeting its leaders and causing distress among believers. This persecution included the execution of James and the imprisonment of Peter.
  • Martyrdom of JamesJames, the brother of John, became one of the first apostles to be martyred, killed by the sword under Herod's command. His death demonstrated the intense hostility faced by the early church.
  • Miraculous DeliverancePeter's escape from prison was a supernatural event, orchestrated by an angel of the Lord. His chains fell off, and heavily guarded doors opened automatically, highlighting divine intervention in the face of human opposition.
  • Power of PrayerThe church's "without ceasing" prayer for Peter is directly linked to his miraculous release. This demonstrates the efficacy of corporate prayer in times of crisis.
  • Divine JudgmentHerod Agrippa I met a swift and gruesome end, struck down by an angel and "eaten of worms," because he accepted the people's idolatrous praise without giving glory to God. This serves as a stark example of God's judgment against pride and blasphemy.
  • Disbelief and AstonishmentWhen Peter arrived at Mary's house, the praying believers initially disbelieved Rhoda's report of his presence, thinking it impossible or that it was his angel. Their subsequent astonishment upon seeing him underscores the unexpected nature of God's intervention.
  • Growth of the WordDespite the persecution, martyrdom, and imprisonment faced by its leaders, the chapter concludes with the affirmation that "the word of God grew and multiplied." This emphasizes the resilience and unstoppable nature of the gospel message.