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 he motioned with his hand for them to be silent, and he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Go tell these things to Jacob and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. 18When day came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod made a search for him and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea and stayed in Caesarea. 20Now it happened that Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, united. Having won over Blastus, the king’s personal aide, they began asking for peace—because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21On an appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes and, taking his seat upon the throne, began to make a speech to them.

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 23:14So David stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness, remaining in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
• Psalms 37:32The wicked lies in wait for the righteous, seeking to slay him.
• Jeremiah 36:26Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, along with Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah—but Adonai hid them.
• Matthew 2:13Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of Adonai appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the Child, to kill Him.”
• Acts 12:4After seizing him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads with four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
• Matthew 28:11Now while they were going, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the ruling kohanim all that had happened.
• Daniel 2:11What the king asks is too difficult. There is no one who could declare it to the king, except the gods whose dwelling is not with mortals!”
• Matthew 2:16Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became furious. And he sent and killed all boys in Bethlehem and in all its surrounding area, from two years old and under, according to the time he had determined from the magi.
• John 12:10So the ruling kohanim made plans to kill Lazarus also,
• Acts 21:8On the next day, we departed and came to Caesarea. We entered the home of Philip, the proclaimer of Good News, who was one of the seven, and we stayed with him.
• Acts 25:13Now after several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
• 1 Kings 20:43Then the king of Israel went home to Samaria sullen and resentful.
• Esther 6:12Afterwards, Mordecai then returned to the king’s gate, but Haman rushed to his home, grief-stricken and with his head covered.

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