About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (vv. 1-3a) This Herod the king (Herod Agrippa I) in Acts 12:1-4,20-23 is not the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded or whom Jesus visited before His crucifixion – that was his uncle, Herod Antipas. With both of these rulers I am troubled at their violent nature, but I guess kingly cruelty was common back then. Sad…
When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. (v. 10) I wondered about this prison being outside the city (Jerusalem). But my Study Bible indicated that this prison was a tower inside the Temple area, more like a guardhouse than a formal prison. FYI.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service… (v. 25a) The “service” that Barnabas and Saul had completed was bringing an offering from the Antioch Christians to the church in Jerusalem (see yesterday’s reading, Acts 11:29-30). Now they are returning to Antioch, which will become the major city in Acts for the next many chapters. You’ll see that in chapter 13 beginning tomorrow.
See also: February 15 / Acts 12:1-4; February 16 / Acts 12:5-10; February 17 / Acts 12:11-19; February 18 / Acts 12:20-25