Acts 12:1

Acts 12:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
• New International Version (NIV)It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

Context of Acts 12:1

Now at that time Herod [Agrippa I] the king [of the Jews] arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them. 2And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword; 3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to have Peter arrested as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week].

Acts 12:1 word by word

Κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνον δὲ τὸν καιρὸν ἐπέβαλεν Ἡρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰς χεῖρας κακῶσαί τινας τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• aboutκατάkata · according toG2596
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
• HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
• the kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
• stretched forthἐπιβάλλωepiballō · to put on/seizeG1911
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• to vexκακόωkakoō · to harmG2559
• certainτιςtis · oneG5100
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for Acts 12:1

• Acts 4:30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name [and the authority and power] of Your holy Servant and Son Jesus.”
• Acts 9:31So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
• Luke 22:53Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power and authority of darkness are yours.”
• Matthew 10:17Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;
• Matthew 24:9“Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
• John 15:20Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
• John 16:2They will put you out of the synagogues and make you outcasts. And a time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God.

Commentaries on Acts 12:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Herod the king - This was Herod Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, and grandson of Herod the Great; he was nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John they Baptist, and brother to Herodias. He was made king by the Emperor Caligula, and was put in possession of all the territories formerly held by his uncle Philip and by Lysanias; viz. Iturea, Trachonitis, Abilene, with Gaulonitis, Batanaea, and Penias. To these the Emperor Claudius afterwards added Judea and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Now about that time - That is, during the time that the famine existed, or the time when Barnabas and Saul went up to Jerusalem. This was probably about the fifth or sixth year of the reign of Claudius, not far from 47 ad. Herod the king - This was Herod Agrippa. The Syriac so renders it expressly, and the chronology requires us so to understand it. He was a grandson of Herod the Great, and one of the sons of Aristobulus, whom Herod put to death…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The martyrdom of James, and the imprisonment of Peter. (1-5) He is delivered from prison by an angel. (6-11) Peter departs, Herod's rage. (12-19) The death of Herod. (20-25) Verses 1-5 James was one of the sons of Zebedee, whom Christ told that they should drink of the cup that he was to drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was to be baptized with, Mt 20:23. Now the words of Christ were made good in him; and if we suffer with Christ, we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5Jesus had prophesied that his followers would experience persecution and difficulty (Luke 11:49–51). For the first time since his death, Roman authorities acted violently against the church. James, the brother of John, was among the first disciples Jesus called (Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11). He was one of the first Christians killed because of his faith. King Herod Agrippa took action to intentionally harm the church (Acts 12:20–23). It is possible that…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-191-3. Herod the king--grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. He at this time ruled over all his father's dominions. Paley has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. For thirty years before this there was no king at Jerusalem exercising supreme authority over Judea, nor was there ever afterwards, save during the three last years of Herod's life, within which the transactions occurred.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 12:1

• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Persecution
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Agrippa I.
• Constantly
• Drusilla
• Herod Agrippa I.
• James
• Multiply
• Prayer

Commentaries on Acts 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings