1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Commentary
Vs. 1 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.”
During those days Herod the “king”; that is Herod Agrippa 1, the one who was designated as “king” over Jews by Roman Emperor Claudius; started his own persecution of believers in Judea (vs. 1). Now this he did it seems to garnish himself more favor from the Jews who he was appointed to rule.
Vs. 2 “Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
Moving from merely harassing the church to now killing one of its most prominent and key members is an easy thing for those whom Satan rules to do. But that’s always how the progression goes, first they start out harassing us, and when that fails, they soon move to persecuting and killing us, as they become more emboldened with each downward step they take. And so, Herod seizing James the brother of John; who had also seen the Lord Jesus Christ transfigured with Peter and John (Matt. 17:1-9); now puts James to death by sword, that is he executed him. And in all likelihood, he did this publicly. The effect this had on church in Jerusalem is not stated, but what is stated is the reaction of the Jews with his doing so in verse three.
Vs. 3 “And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.”
When Herod saw how pleased the Jews were when he executed James the brother of John, he then went after Peter who was the most prominent apostle in the church at Jerusalem. Thus, Herod ever calculating what would garner him the most approval by the Jews now seizes Peter during the Days of Unleavened Bread, the principal Feast of the Jews, in which the Passover was to be celebrated by them.
Vs. 4 “So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.”
Having arrested Peter, Herod now secures him in prison by guarding him with four squads of soldiers, (i.e., sixteen armed men), intending to bring him before the people at Passover, just as Jesus was brought about before them, before He was crucified and killed. Thus, Herod likely remembering how the Jews responded when Pilate presented Jesus before their Passover, is now likewise intending to do the same with Peter.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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