12:1-23. Jerusalem. Peter's Imprisonment.
1,2. Herod. Persecution.
3-19-. Imprisonment and Release.
-19-23. Herod. Judgment and Death.
44 A.D.
(This chapter is a parenthesis, describing events in 44 A.D. Gives you a prophetic outlook of the end generation, the generation of the fig tree, the generation we live in. Pay attention! It is the year that God set aside as a marker. We will see a type of Antichrist in Herod, and we will also see how God delivers one from Antichrist. This entire chapter is a parenthetical chapter, which is given in the manuscripts, and unfortunately when we read from the King James you would miss that. That is why the Companion Bible is good for an English teacher, or reader, because it calls your attention to this fact. The whole purpose is to draw our attention to certain things that took place in that year.)
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king
(Herod Agrippa I. Type of Anti-Christ. He was an Idumean which was the the people of Esau. He was the second son of Herod the Great, the King that ruled during the time of the birth of Christ.)
stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
(Herod is out to vex, or mistreat the church, and the best way that he sees to do this, is by killing the leaders of the church.)
2 And he killed James
(Equivalent of Jacob.)
the brother of John
(The last historical reference to John.)
with the sword.
Remember in the prior verse we say that Herod's blood line was from the people of Esau. Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, the sons of Isaac. Remember Genesis 27:40, where this one Esau was pleading with Isaac his father for a gift and a promise, just like the one that Jacob had received.
Genesis 27:40 "And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."
Esau and his descendants would live by the sword, and he also would die by the sword. So that sword of Esau is at work right here in this book of Acts. This is not adding to the Word of God, but taking another look at this verse in relation to other scripture. Prophetically, we can do that when the Herod of the end times, Satan the Antichrist comes to power, Christians will also be delivered up to him, and just like Herod, Satan will try to destroy them. However just as the Angel of God saved Peter from destruction, God will protect His elect from the sword of Satan during the great deception [tribulation].)
3-19-. Peter. Imprisonment.
3. Herod's base policy.
4-. Peter guarded.
-4. Intention.
5-. Prison.
-5. Prayer.
6-10-. Deliverance effected.
-10. Angel's Departure.
11. Frustration.
12-. House.
-12. Prayer.
13-17-. Deliverance recounted.
-17. Peter's Departure.
18. Peter missed.
19-. Herod's Vengeance.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews,
(People of Judea, i.e. Kenites. Not our brother Judah.)
he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
(= Passover. See v.4. Lit. the unleavened [things]. Leaven in every form was to be put away. Ex.12:15,19.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions
(= 16. Quarternions = Gr. tetradion, a body of four. There were 4 soldiers to guard Peter for each of the four watches. The prisoner was chained to two and the other two kept watch. See v.6.)
of soldiers to keep him; intending after Passover
(Gr. pascha. NOT "EASTER". "Easter" is not in any of the Greek manuscripts. "Easter" is a heathen deity. It is inexcusable to allow this to continue, i.e commemoration of orgies and rolling of fertility eggs & rabbits = fertility, quick as a bunny. "Easter" is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the Old Testament.)
to bring him forth
(= lead up, i.e. to the judgment seat.)
to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God
(Gr. Theos. Elohim is used of God as Creator towards His creatures, and Yahaveh [the Lord] in His covenant relationship.)
for him.
(Peter is the one that Christ Himself indicated would be the founder of the Church. Remember though, the Church is the many membered body who believe in Christ. Peter = a rock, Christ is The Rock. Peter then is the focus of the Kenites and Herod for destroying the Christians, and we see Peter being locked away in prison for the Passover.)
Lock that in your mind, the church, or Peter's followers have gone to their closets to pray the night for Peter's deliverance. Keep in mind that God is in control.)
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping
(Gr. koimaomai = to fall asleep unintentionally, involuntary.)
between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
(Cp. this with the captivity of Moses & Enoch and see if you can draw any parallels.)
7 And, behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light
(Gr. phõs = light underived and absolute. Used therefore specially of God.)
shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, "Arise up quickly." And his chains fell off from his hands.
(When all this is going on, those two laying beside Peter kept right on sleeping. The angel of God is arranging this event. This is a parenthetical chapter because in a prophetic sense, when you are delivered up before Antichrist [instead of Christ], God is going to protect you also. We have nothing to fear. Luke 21:18 "But there shall not an hair of your head perish.")
8 And the Angel said unto him, "Gird thyself,
(Gr. perizõnnumi. Cp. Luke 12:35,37; 17:8. Eph. 6:14. Rev. 1:13; 15:6.)
and bind on thy sandals." And so he did. And He saith unto him, "Cast thy garment about thee,
(Gr. himation. Put on your coat, i.e. your Gospel Armour.)
and follow Me."
(Study to be spiritually alert at all times. We are in the final days, and prophecies are being fulfilled every day.)
9 And he went out, and followed Him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel; but thought he saw a vision.
(He doesn't know if it is a dream, or reality. Peter himself knew that God would take care of His own, but when the deliverance comes, he doesn't know how real it really is.)
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street;
(So when you get in trouble like Peter was, and finding himself a block or two away from were he originally was held, do you think he or you are alone!? NOT!!! Cp. Matt.18:10.)
and forthwith the Angel departed from him.
(If you are a child of God, you have an angel that is watching every move you make, and is ready in an instant to call attention to the Father when you are in trouble. This is not a fairy tale, it is the Word of God, something you can count on. God knows what you are going through.)
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, "Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent His Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."
(I.e. of Judea, not our brother Judah. See v.3. Cp. Jer. 24.)
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John,
(See 13:5;13; 15:37,39. Col.4:10. 2 Tim.4:11.)
whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
(Peter considered where he was, and decided to go to the home of the mother of whom we commonly call Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark. We know what they were praying for, they were praying for Peter. The church people are gathered together to pray as a body, for Peters release. They knew what happened to James, the brother of John. This was not the James the author of the book of James. It is important to observe the unity of our people the body of Christ, and their coming together in prayer for the needs of other menbers of that many membered body of Christ.
Again this is a parenthetical chapter, given that we can learn a lesson from, and pay attention to what has happened.)
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
(= rose.)
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
(She was overjoyed, she didn't let Peter in! In the excitement, she never opened the door, but ran in to tell the others. She left Peter standing outside the gate, still knocking to get in.)
15 And they said unto her, "Thou art mad." But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, "It is his angel."
(I.e. guardian angel. How would you like this group praying for you!? Where is there faith!? Their prayers have been answered, yet they don't have the faith to believe it. Rose came in to tell them that Peter is at the gate, and they tell her that she is crazy.
They didn't put reality to their own faith, and that is like those that play at Christianity today.)
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
(Human nature, questioning that God answers prayer. Are you astonished when your prayers are answered? Your prayers are your petition to our heavenly Father. Remember that this is symbolic to our people, the elect of God, when they are delivered up to the Antichrist and his religious order. That time is coming very shortly. Friend, pay attention, this chapter is given to let us know that God is able to take care of you when that time comes.
God created the stars in the heavens and all souls, and you don't think that God can take care of you. Everything is in God control, and when you call out to Him He hears you.)
17 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,
(The Lord's brother. See Gal.1:19.)
and to the brethren." And he departed, and went into another place.
(You can just see all of them jabbering at one time, and Peter held up his hand for them to quiet down. Peter then told them every thing that had happen at the prison, and told them to go and tell this to James, and to the brethren, and he left of places outside of Jerusalem.
Today peoples belief, and reality are so far apart. What we are to remember from this is that Christianity is not a religion, but it is reality. It is life itself that you are living, and the signs that surround our reality are coming to pass daily before our eyes. It is time to open your eyes and pay attention so that you will not be deceived. As we live in these days, there should be nothing that astonishes you. Not when nations fall, and mankind turns the righteous things of God into evil and evil into righteousness. That is what must come to pass because it is written in God's Word that it will.
Peter's release was from prison, only our release will not be from the prisons, and captivity in the physical realm, but from the false doctrines that are entering the church itself. From those traditions and false doctrines that would lead you to Satan the Antichrist. When Satan plays the role of "Instead of Christ" [Antichrist], he will come on the earth in the form of an beautiful angel. He will come looking like you have been taught that Christ would come, only this is not Christ but Satan.
The death that this Antichrist will bring is not a physical death, but a spiritual death, the death of your very soul. But you have nothing to fear, and that is what this chapter is all about; it brings you peace of mind.)
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death.
(God has a way with dealing with those that touch His anointed.)
And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
(Herod is burning mad over the affair, and he wants blood, and if isn't Peter's then it will be those guards that let him go, so he thought.
There is a lesson in this; for it is the souls that Satan [the Antichrist] will be after in the great tribulation. In this event of Peter, it is the physical bodies that this type of Antichrist [Herod] wanted. This claiming of souls by Satan will come by a great revival, and note here that Satan will be harder on his own, his angels, the Kenites, and those ministers that will doing his work, then he is on those that he is trying to convert. If you are an imposter from Jesus Christ, you have to act as Jesus Christ would.
So we see that God delivered Simon Peter from the hands of Herod, the one world government of Peter's time, the Roman government.)
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre
(= a rock, i.e. false rock. Satin's main place.)
and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus
(= spout. He was a Kenite.)
the king's chamberlain their friend,
(= persuaded, or won over. These were really blood-suckers.)
desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.
(Tyre was the island city built on a rock, just off the sea shore in the Mediterranean Sea. The Kenites were the merchandisers from the world, and their great ships would come into port, for Tyre had become the trade center. Zidon was the town of their brothers on shore.
Herod was very unhappy with them, but they always had that ability of knowing where the trade was, and how to make the deals once they got there. When they went to war, it would never be their blood shed, but the causes were always for their favor.
These men from Tyre and Zidon came to Herod in a group to smooth over the friction that had built up between Herod the king, and the people of these cities. They had their own spy right in the king's chamberlin, and Blastus this chamberlin made these Kenites aware of all the king's weaknesses. These Kenites needed the blessings of the king Herod to keep themselves going, they were nothing but bloodsuckers.)
21 And upon a set day Herod,
(He was his own little Caesar.)
arrayed in royal apparel,
(Josephus [Ant.XIX. viii. 2] says it was of silver tissue, and glittered resplendently in the sun.)
sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
(I.e. a political oration. Type of Anti-Christ to its fullest!)
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."
(This is the exact thing that they will say when Antichrist returns, and they will believe it. Will you? They will say, It is the true Christ and he has come to fly us away.
Do you know what happens then?)
23 And immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms,
(Rotten from within. Cp. Isa.14:11)
and gave up the spirit.
(Don't ever get in the way of the Word of God.)
Antioch. Mission of the Holy Spirit. Equipment of Paul and Barnabus.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
(God's Word can change people!)
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
(Remember what happens at the close of the time of the great deception? Two witness also will return to witness against the "instead of Christ".
This is a beautiful chapter that God placed in the book of Acts as an parenthesis, of the events of the year 44 A.D., and these events are a type of what shall happen prophetically in our generation. It is important that we understand the events of both times that we are not caught off guard, when the fake Christ is cast out of heaven by Michael to the earth, to deceive all mankind, but the elect of God, and those who have the seal of God [the Word of God] in their foreheads, their minds with understanding.
It is very important that we see why God has set this year 44 A. D. aside to remember in that Paul has now been elected, and in that year the formation of the church had begun. With it's leader Paul being struck down on the road to Damascus, and God electing Him to carry the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles. So shall the church of the elect of the end times be also put to the same test in the end generation.
The elect will do just fine, because we have God on our side.)