Acts 12 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Bible Comments
  • Acts 12:1 open_in_new

    This chapter is. parenthesis, describing events in A.D. 14.

    about. Greek. kata.

    time. season.

    Herod. Herod Agrippa I. App-109.

    stretched forth his hands. put to his hands. Compare Luke 9:62, same phrase.

    vex. maltreat. Greek. kakoo. See note on Acts 7:6.

    certain. Greek. tis. App-123.

    of. of those from the church. App-186.

  • Acts 12:2 open_in_new

    killed. Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23.

    James. App-141.

    John. App-141. The last historical reference to John.

    sword. Death by the sword was regarded by the Rabbis as particularly disgraceful.

  • Acts 12:4 open_in_new

    apprehended. arrested. Greek. piazo. See note on John 11:57.

    in. into. Greek. eis.

    prison. ward. Greek. pkulake.

    quaternions. Greek. tetradion,. body of four. Only here. There were four soldiers to guard Peter for each of the four watches. The prisoner was chained to two and the other two kept watch. See Acts 12:6.

    intending. Greek. boulomai. App-102.

    after. Greek. meta. App-104.

    Easter. Greek. to pascha, the Passover. Easter is. heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T.

    bring... forth. lead up, i.e. to the judgment seat. Compare Luke 22:66.

    people. Greek. laos.

  • Acts 12:5 open_in_new

    therefore. then indeed.

    prayer. Greek. proseuche. App-134.

    without ceasing. intense, Greek. ektenes. Occurs elsewhere only in 1 Peter 4:8. The comparative only in Luke 22:44, and the adverb in 1 Peter 1:22. The texts here read the adverb, ektenos.

    of. by. Greek. hupo. App-104.

    for. in behalf of. Greek. huper. App-104., but texts read peri, concerning.

  • Acts 12:6 open_in_new

    would have brought. was about to bring.

    the same. that.

    sleeping. Greek. koimaomai. App-171.

    keepers. guards. See Acts 5:23.

    kept. were keeping.

  • Acts 12:7 open_in_new

    behold. Greek. idou. App-133.

    came upon. stood over.

    light. Greek. phos. App-130.

    prison. Greek. oikema, dwelling. Only here. The Revised Version reads "cell". That was Peter's dwelling-place. The angel of the Lord there.

    Peter on the side. Peter's side.

    raised... up. Greek. egeiro. App-178.

    Arise up. Greek. anistemi. App-178.

    quickly. in (Greek. en) or with speed.

  • Acts 12:9 open_in_new

    him. The texts omit.

    wist. knew. Greek. oida. App-132.

    true. Greek. alethes. App-175.

    by. through. Greek. dia.

    thought. was thinking.

    saw. Greek. blepo. App-133.

    vision. Greek. horama, as in Acts 7:31.

  • Acts 12:11 open_in_new

    when, &c. Peter, having come to be.

    to himself. in (Greek. en) himself, i.e. in his right senses. Compare "out of his senses", or "beside himself".

    know. Greek. oida, as in Acts 12:9.

    of. surety. truly. Greek. alethos. Compare App-175.

    hath sent. sent. Greek. exapostello. App-174.

    hath delivered. delivered. See note on Acts 7:10.

    expectation. eager looking. Greek. prosdokia. Elsewhere only in Luke 21:26. Compare App-133.

  • Acts 12:13 open_in_new

    as Peter knocked. Peter, having knocked.

    gate. Greek. pulon. Translated "porch" in Matthew 26:71.

    damsel. Greek. paidiske. Compare App-108.

    hearken. answer. Greek. hupakouo. Elsewhere translated "obey", or "be obedient".

    named. by name.

    Rhoda. Greek. Rhode, rose.

  • Acts 12:14 open_in_new

    when she knew. having recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132.

    for. from. Greek. apo. App-104.

    told. reported. Greek. apangello. Compare App-121.

  • Acts 12:18 open_in_new

    as soon as, &c. = day having come.

    stir. disturbance. Greek. tarachos. Here and Acts 19:23.

    among. Greek. en. App-104.

    what was, &c. Literally what then Peter had come to be.

  • Acts 12:19 open_in_new

    sought for him. sought him up and down.

    not. Greek. me. App-105.

    examined. Greek. anakrino. App-122.

    put to death. led away, i.e. to execution. Greek. apago. Same word as in Matthew 27:31, &c.

    Caesarea. See Acts 8:40.

    abode. Greek. diatribo, to rub away, or spend (time). Occures John 3:22; John 11:54, and eight times in Acts.

  • Acts 12:20 open_in_new

    Herod. Texts read "He".

    was highly displeased. Greek. thumomacheo, to fight angrily. Only here.

    them of Tyre, &c. = the Tyrians, &c.

    came. were present, or presented themselves.

    with one accord. Greek. homothumadon. See note on Acts 1:14.

    made... their friend. persuaded, or won over. Greek. peitho. App-150.

    the king's chamberlain. one who was over (Greek. epi. App-104) the bedchamber (Greek. koiton. Only here) of the king.

    desired. were asking for. Greek. aiteo. App-134.

    because. Greek. dia. App-104.Acts 12:2.

    nourished. Compare 1Ki 5:9, 1 Kings 5:11.Ezekiel 27:17.

    king's. royal. Greek. basilikos. See note on John 4:46.

  • Acts 12:21 open_in_new

    set. appointed.

    royal. Same as "king's", Acts 12:20.

    apparel. Josephus (Antiquities XIX. viii. 2) says it was of silver tissue, and glittered resplendently in the sun.

    his throne. the throne. Greek. bema. Always translated "judgment seat" except here and Acts 7:5. Compare John 19:13.

    made an oration, i.e.. political oration. Greek. demegoreo. Only here.