Acts 12:19

Acts 12:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 Judea to Cesarea, and there abode.
• New International Version (NIV)After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Context of Acts 12:19

17But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place. 18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea [Maritima] and spent some time there. 20Now Herod [Agrippa I] was extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, the king’s chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king’s country. 21On an appointed day Herod dressed himself in his royal robes, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people.

Acts 12:19 word by word

Ἡρῴδης δὲ ἐπιζητήσας αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ εὑρὼν ἀνακρίνας τοὺς φύλακας ἐκέλευσεν ἀπαχθῆναι, καὶ κατελθὼν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς Καισάρειαν διέτριβεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• when HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
• had soughtἐπιζητέωepizēteō · to seek afterG1934
• for himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• found himεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• notμήmē · notG3361
• he examinedἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350
• the keepersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the keepersφύλαξphulax · guard; keeperG5441
• and commanded thatκελεύωkeleuō · to orderG2753
• should be put to deathἀπάγωapagō · to lead awayG520
• he went downκατέρχομαιkaterchomai · to descendG2718
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• CesareaΚαισάρειαKaisareia · CaesareaG2542
• andδιατρίβωdiatribō · to remainG1304

Cross-references for Acts 12:19

• 1 Samuel 23:14David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
• Psalms 37:32The wicked lies in wait for the righteous And seeks to kill him.
• Jeremiah 36:26And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.
• Matthew 2:13Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him.”
• Acts 12:4When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].
• Matthew 28:11While they were on their way, some of the [Roman] guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
• Daniel 2:11Furthermore, what the king demands is an unusual and difficult thing indeed! No one except the gods can reveal it to the king, and their dwelling is not with [mortal] flesh.”
• Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he realized that he had been tricked by the magi, was extremely angry, and he sent [soldiers] and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that area who were two years old and under, according to the date which he had learned from the magi.
• John 12:10So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also,
• Acts 21:8On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.
• Acts 25:13Now several days later, Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].
• 1 Kings 20:43So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria.
• Esther 6:12Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his [own] house, mourning and with his head covered [in sorrow].

Commentaries on Acts 12:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Commanded that they should be put to death - He believed, or pretended to believe, that the escape of Peter was owing to the negligence of the keepers: jailers, watchmen, etc., ordinarily suffered the same kind of punishment which should have been inflicted on the prisoner whose escape they were supposed to have favored. He went down from Judea to Caesarea - How soon he went down, and how long he stayed there, we know not.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19He examined the keepers - The soldiers who were entrusted with his custody. Probably only those who had the special care of him at that watch of the night. The word “examine” here means “to inquire diligently, to make investigation.” He subjected them to a rigid scrutiny to ascertain the manner of his escape; for it is evident that Herod did not mean to admit the possibility of a miraculous interposition. Should be put to death - For having failed to keep…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-19Verses 12-19 God's providence leaves room for the use of our prudence, though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has begun. These Christians continued in prayer for Peter, for they were truly in earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a mercy, we must continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe. The Christian law of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-23When Peter was missing after a thorough search, Herod questioned the guards and executed them (see 16:27). However, Herod himself then experienced a painful death. God punished him for his pride when he accepted the people's worship. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus provides more details about the death of Herod Agrippa I (Josephus, Antiquities 19.8.1–2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. as soon as it was day, &c.--His deliverance must have been during the fourth watch (three to six A.M.); else he must have been missed by the keepers at the change of the watch [Wies].Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 12:19

• Caesarea
• Herod
• Homicide
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prisoners
• Rulers
• Soldiers
• Watchman

In the dictionaries

• Judea
• Herod
• Judaea, or Judea
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Judea, Judah
• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Raise

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