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Acts 12:1 Herod was Herod Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great (see note on Matt. 2:1). He ruled over various territories in Judea until his kingdom reached the full extent of his grandfather’s territory (a.d. 41–44).
Acts 12:2 The martyred James was Jesus’ disciple, son of Zebedee and brother of John.
Acts 12:3 The days of Unleavened Bread, the seven days following the Passover meal, were considered holy and were not to be violated by an execution.
Acts 12:4 The prison was probably the Tower of Antonia (see note on 21:31–32). The use of four squads of soldiers reflects Roman practice: one squad of four soldiers for each of the four three-hour watches of the night. Passover refers to the entire spring festival that includes Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Acts 12:12 John whose other name was Mark will be a major figure in the next three chapters. He goes with Paul and Barnabas on the first part of their first missionary journey but leaves them (see v. 25; 13:5; 13). Mark later accompanied Peter (see 1 Pet. 5:13). There is substantial evidence from the early church that he wrote the Gospel of Mark (see Introduction to Mark: Author, Date, and Recipients).
Acts 12:17 James here is the brother of Jesus (see Introduction to James: Author, Date, and Recipients; Gal. 1:19), not James the brother of John (who was killed by Herod, Acts 12:2). From this point forward in Acts, James seems to be the most prominent leader among the apostles in Jerusalem (see 15:13–21; 21:18). For some reason Peter no longer remained the leader and spokesman in Jerusalem. Rather, he went to another place, possibly either Rome or Antioch.
Acts 12:18–19 In executing the sentries (guards), Herod followed Roman practice. Soldiers who lost their prisoners were subject to the same penalty as that due to the prisoners. Caesarea (see note on 8:40).
Acts 12:20 A chamberlain was a trusted personal assistant to a high government official.
Acts 12:25 their service. That is, their famine relief journey to Jerusalem (see 11:29–30).
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