An Outline Of Acts 12:18-25

An outline of Acts 12:18-25

1 Herod’s reaction to Peter’s disappearance

Text, Acts 12:18-19, KJV: 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And 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.

Thoughts;

--Peter, with the angel’s help, had escaped the prison and had disappeared! Luke had mentioned in verse 6 he was chained between two soldiers. What these men must have thought when they woke up, and didn’t see Peter, must have been something!

--Whether “the soldiers” refers only to the two guards who had been chained to Peter, and/or the “keepers before the door (v. 6) or the whole group of 16 is not certain.

--Now they were scared: not only had Peter escaped, they were asleep when this happened. According to Barnes’ notes, death was indeed the penalty for being asleep on duty as well as for letting a prisoner escape (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/acts/12.html )

--Clearly a thorough investigation took place but at least some of the guards were found guilty. They suffered the same sentence which had been placed on Peter. Had any of them asked Peter about why he was in prison or enquired about Peter’s faith? Let’s hope they found peace with God before they lost their lives.

--Herod, according to several commentators, went down to Caesarea and dwelt there. Oddly enough, Caesarea was the place where a Roman garrison was located (Cornelius of Acts 10 was a centurion there). Peter, interestingly, had stayed there after leading Cornelius and others to faith in Christ at a previous date. Nobody knows how long Herod stayed there.

2 Herod’s reaction to the people of Tyre and Sidon

Text, Acts 12:20, KJV: 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.

Thoughts:

--Not much is known when, why, or how this even took place. The people of Tyre and Sidon, though, came to Herod in order to make peace before something happened. Herod was “displeased” but it’s not clear in the KJV what this really signifies.

--Blastus is only mentioned here. As a chamberlain, he was a servant in charge of bed chambers. A different word is used of Erastus in Romans 16:23. The people of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus their friend (one wonders how). Perhaps they hoped to win him to their point of view so that it would be easier to make peace with Herod.

--It’s strange that Tyre and Sidon would need to import food unless there were conditions known then that are not known now. Then again, David had obtained cedar from Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11) and Solomon had agreed to trade food for lumber (cedar, see 1 Kings 5). If Herod had the power to cut off food supplies, it’s no surprise the people of Tyre and Sidon wanted to make peace with him.

3 Herod’s reaction to the people’s praise

Text, Acts 12:21-24. KJV: 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 24 And 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. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Thoughts:

--Some commentators think this “set day” was a holiday of some kind. Dr. A. T. Robertson quotes Josephus (Josephus (Antiquities, XVII. 6, 8; XIX. 8, 2) as saying this was a festival in honor of Emperor Claudius, maybe even the Emperor’s birthday (https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/acts-12.html )

--Why Herod chose to wear his royal apparel is not known even though he did have the title of “King of the Jews.” Herod was sitting on his throne (did he move it to Caesarea from Jerusalem?) at the time.

--Then Herod made an oration or speech. The topic and duration are not given but it must have been impressive enough for the people to say “it’s the voice of a god and not a man.” Dr. Robertson observed this adoration was in the vein of emperor worship, not insisting “I am God” or anything like that. Some orators, politicians, and the like try to keep this style of communication going even today.

--The audience, the people, may have been impressed but God wasn’t. Again referring to Dr. Robertson’s notes, an angel of the Lord had the power to smite or strike Herod immediately. Herod was carried out of the theatre, dying while he lived, and lived only five days after this event took place (https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/acts-12.html).