shall perhaps feel ourselves justified in regarding this part of the story as an embellishment, though we have no reason for questioning the fact that in some way or other Peter did escape from prison, and so was saved from the fate which befell James. 1. about that time. I.e., about the time when Saul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem with the gift from the Church at Antioch. As Herod Agrippa died in 44 A.D. and the persecution occurred shortly before his death, we may safely suppose that the phrase refers to a date almost immediately preceding the Passover of that year. Herod the king. Herod Agrippa 1., who became king of the whole of Palestine in 41, and reigned for three years. The most marked feature of his reign is the devotion which he showed towards the Jewish religion. As Josephus says: "He loved to live continually at Jerusalem, and was extremely exact in the observance of the laws of his country. He therefore kept himself entirely pure, nor did any day pass over his head without its appointed sacrifice. 2. he killed James the brother of John. James the brother of John must be distinguished from James the brother of the Lord, who was the leader of the Church at Jerusalem (cf. ver. 17 and xv. 13). Little is known about the James mentioned here, except that he was one of the inner circle of Christ's disciples. 3. it pleased the Jews. The main point in Agrippa's policy was to win the favour of the Jews. Josephus draws a contrast between him and his grandfather, Herod the Great, in this respect. Herod the Great was "more friendly to the Greeks than to the Jews," but Agrippa like him in this matter." 66 was not at all the days of unleavened bread. The Passover was followed by a period of seven days during which only unleavened bread was eaten. During the Passover week no executions were allowed, and it was for this reason that Peter was kept in prison. 4. four quaternions. A quaternion is a group of four men. The four groups divided the watch between them, so that Peter was always guarded by four soldiers. Two of these had their wrists chained to Peter's wrists, and the other two (the first and second ward) kept watch at the door. after Easter. R.V., "after the Passover," which is the literal translation of the Greek. The word "Easter" is used in the A.V. to show that the reference is not merely to the Passover day, but to the whole of the Passover week. Peter was arrested just before the feast began, and so it was necessary to keep him in prison for seven days before the execution was possible. 6. bound with two chains. The word for "chains" is a technical expression in the Greek for the "wristbands" by which Peter was bound to the two soldiers (see ver. 4). keepers before the door. Two of the quaternion of soldiers who kept guard at the door. 10. the iron gate that leadeth into the city. The details given in this and the following verse bear the mark of reality stamped on them, and seem to show that Luke obtained his knowledge of this incident from a specially well-informed source. THE PERSECUTION UNDER HEROD AGRIPPA-(continued). II. THE FLIGHT OF PETER (xii. 12-19). 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was 13 Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to 14 hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, 15 and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that 16 it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the 17 door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went 18 into another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of 19 Peter. 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 Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode. After escaping from prison, Peter pays a visit to a group of disciples who are assembled for prayer at the house of Mary the mother of John Marka house which seems to have been a regular rendezvous for Christian gatherings, and then, after recounting the story of his deliverance, seeks safety in flight. The scene, as described by Luke, affords us a glimpse into the home-life of the primitive Church, and enables us to form some conception as to the character of its meetings. 12. when he had considered the thing. I.e., after deliberating as to the best course to adopt. the house of Mary. Mary was probably a widow. She seems to have been one of the leading members of the Church at Jerusalem. In all likelihood she was closely related to Barnabas, since in Col. iv. 10 her son John Mark is described as his cousin (or nephew). 13. came to hearken. R.V., "to answer," better translation of the Greek. -a 15. It is his angel. The belief that everyone possessed a guardian angel was very common amongst the Jews at this time: cf. Matt. xviii. 10; Heb. i. 14. 17. to hold their peace. There was no time to waste. If the soldiers awoke, Peter might be followed, and the house of Mary was well known to the authorities as a resort of the Christians. to James. James the brother of the Lord-the president of the Church at Jerusalem. See n. on xii. 2. to another place. Probably outside the citysome secret place of hiding where the authorities would not be able to find him. THE PERSECUTION UNDER HEROD AGRIPPA-(continued). III. THE TRAGIC DEATH OF AGRIPPA (xii. 20-24). 20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and but they came with one accord to him, and, Sidon having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the 21 king's country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration 22 unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is 23 the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the 24 ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. The persecution, which threatened to destroy the Church, was soon brought to an end owing to the sudden death of Herod Agrippa at Cæsarea. In addition to the narrative of Luke, we have a full account of Agrippa's fate in Josephus. The essential part of Josephus' description is as follows: "Now when Agrippa had reigned three years, he came to Cæsarea, and there he exhibited shows in honour of Cæsar. At which festival a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons and such as were of dignity through his province. On the second day of the festival he put on a garment made wholly of silver and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning: the silver of his garment, illuminated by the reflection of the sun's rays, shone out in a surprising manner, and was so resplendent that it created a feeling of awe and dread in the minds of the onlookers, and presently his flatterers cried out that he was a god, and added, 'Be thou merciful unto us, for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, we shall henceforth recognise thee as superior to mortal nature.' Upon this the king did neither rebuke them nor reject their impious flattery. But as he looked up presently he saw an owl sitting upon a rope, and perceived |