History · Chapter 12 of 28

Acts 12

Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, but the church prays without ceasing. An angel wakes Peter, his chains fall off, and gates open of their own accord until he is free. He goes to a house of praying believers, who can scarcely believe it. Herod, praised as a god and refusing to give God glory, is struck down and dies, while the word of God keeps growing.

What happens in Acts 12

Herod the king begins to persecute the church, killing James the brother of John with the sword. Seeing that this pleased the people, he seizes Peter also and imprisons him under heavy guard, intending to bring him out after the feast. The church prays for him without ceasing. On the night before his trial, Peter sleeps bound between two soldiers when an angel wakes him. A light shines, the chains fall off, and Peter follows, thinking he sees a vision.

They pass the guards, and the iron gate opens by itself. Only in the street does Peter realize the Lord has rescued him. He goes to the house of Mary, where believers are praying, and the servant Rhoda is so overjoyed she leaves him at the gate. When they finally open, they are astonished. Later Herod, hailed as a god and giving God no glory, is struck by an angel and dies. But the word of God grows and multiplies.

Acts 12 in context

Acts 12 tells of Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, who courted Jewish favor by attacking the church around AD 44. James is the first apostle martyred, while Peter is delivered, showing that God does not always rescue the same way.

The scene closes the Jerusalem-centered chapters; from here Acts follows Paul's missionary journeys. The contrast between the humble praying church and the proud king is the chapter's backbone.

Main themes of Acts 12

Acts 12 (KJV)

1Now 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. 5Peter 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. 20And 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.

Verses to carry from Acts 12

“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”Acts 12:5

“And, 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.”Acts 12:7

“But the word of God grew and multiplied.”Acts 12:24

Reflection

Notice how the praying believers could barely believe their prayer was answered. Our faith is often like theirs, earnest yet unsure. Take heart that God hears such prayers anyway. Bring your persistent request to him this week, and leave room to be astonished when he answers in ways you did not quite expect.

A prayer from Acts 12