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

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.)

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 4:30Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
• Acts 9:31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
• Luke 22:53Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”
• Matthew 10:17But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.
• Matthew 24:9“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.
• John 15:20Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
• John 16:2For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for 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