RSV ~ Acts 12 Notes
Acts 12:1-5 | ISB Notes
The Church is hit with a second wave of persecution. Unlike the first, which targeted the laity but not their leadership (8:1), this one is aimed directly at the apostles (James and Peter). See note on Acts 8:1.
Acts 12:1 | ISB Notes
Herod the king: Herod Agrippa I, ruler of all Palestine from A.D. 41 to 44. He was the grandson of Herod the Great (Lk 1:5) and the brother-in-law of Herod Antipas (Lk 23:7).
Acts 12:2 | ISB Notes
James: A son of Zebedee; one of the Twelve (Mk 3:17). After Stephen, he is the second martyr mentioned in Acts (7:58-60). Tradition has it that all the apostles except John died as martyrs for the faith.
with the sword: Beheading was a Roman form of capital execution (Rom 13:4).
Acts 12:3 | ISB Notes
Unleavened Bread: A religious festival that began with Passover (12:4) and extended another six days. Jerusalem was usually flooded with Jewish pilgrims during these national feasts. See note on Lk 22:1.
Acts 12:4 | ISB Notes
four squads: Four shifts of four soldiers each took turns standing guard over Peter throughout the night. This maximum-security measure heightens the miraculousness of his deliverance in the following episode (12:6-11).
Acts 12:5 | ISB Notes
but earnest prayer: Early believers fought the battles of persecution on their knees. It is here implied that Peterâs upcoming rescue is Godâs answer to the intercessory prayers of the Church (CCC 2634-36).
Acts 12:6-11 | ISB Notes
The third imprisonment of Peter in Acts (4:3; 5:18) and the second time he is rescued by an angel (5:19; 12:7).
⢠The deliverance of Peter during Passover evokes memories of Israelâs deliverance from Egypt. Like Israel, Peter is âbrought ⌠outâ of bondage (12:17; Ex 12:51) and rescued âfrom the handâ of his enemies (12:11; Ex 3:8) on âPassoverâ night (12:4; Ex 12:11-12) by an âangel of the Lordâ (12:7; Ex 14:19) after dressing himself and putting âsandalsâ on his feet (12:8; Ex 12:11).
Acts 12:12 | ISB Notes
the house of Mary: A place of prayer and assembly for Jerusalem believers. According to one tradition, this is also the house of the upper room where Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Last Supper. See note on Acts 1:13.
Mark: According to tradition, the evangelist of the Second Gospel and a companion of Peter (1 Pet 5:13) and Paul (13:5). Like many Jews, he had both a Roman (âMarcusâ) and a Semitic (âJohnâ) name.
See Author.
Acts 12:15 | ISB Notes
his angel: Assumes a belief that particular angels are assigned to guard and to guide particular individuals. See note on Mt 18:10.
Acts 12:17 | ISB Notes
James: Not the brother of John martyred in 12:2, and probably not the son of Alphaeus mentioned in 1:13. This James was a near kinsman of Jesus (Mk 6:3; Gal 1:19) who had seen him raised from the dead (1 Cor
15:7). Tradition identifies him as the first bish
op of Jerusalem who assumed leadership over the Church in the city after Peter began to travel. See introduction to the Letter of James: Author. another place: Our knowledge of the precise movements of Peter after this point is limited. The Church historian Eusebius puts him in Rome about A.D. 42; Luke puts him back in Jerusalem about A.D. 49 (15:7); Paul puts him in Syrian Antioch soon after this (Gal 2:12); and Christian tradition is generally agreed that he later returned to Rome and was martyred there in the mid 60s.
Acts 12:19 | ISB Notes
put to death: According to Roman law, prison guards were subject to severe punishment if inmates escaped during their watch (16:27; 27:42).
Acts 12:20 | ISB Notes
Tyre and Sidon: Two Phoenician cities northwest of Galilee (Mt 15:21).
Acts 12:23 | ISB Notes
eaten by worms: The miserable death of Herod Agrippa in A.D. 44 was punishment for accepting divine praise (2 Mac 9:5-12). Lukeâs account is corroborated by a similar report from the Jewish historian Josephus.