Acts 12 · The Lantern

At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt,

Like a wild beast, he attacked all indiscriminately and without consideration. This is what Christ said: "My cup indeed ye shall drink, and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized, shall ye be baptized." And he killed James the brother of John.

"And at the same time, Herod stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. "King Herod, with wicked presumption, murdered John's brother James, who was preaching the word of the Lord. Seeing that he had pleased the Jews in so doing, he sent Peter to prison as well, setting sixteen soldiers to guard him with great care.

At what "time" was that? During the reign of Emperor Claudius. For the Roman Emperor Claudius appointed Agrippa as king of the Jews, having banished Herod together with Herodias to Lugdunum, a Galilean city. This is the same Herod under whom John suffered, as Josephus and Eusebius recount.

and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.

That Peter is struck, that Stephen is overwhelmed by stones, that James is slain as is a victim at the altar, that Paul is beheaded has been written in their own blood.

So that no one may say that 'for this reason they boldly and without fear rush into death, since God is snatching them away,' therefore He also allows the leaders to be killed, persuading those who kill them that even these things do not separate them and hinder them. [CHRYSOSTOM]

Of the twelve disciples of the Lord, James was the first to suffer. Lest anyone say that the apostles go to meet death so fearlessly and without trembling because God snatches them from its hands, God also permitted that even the foremost among them—Stephen and James—be put to death.

And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were the days of unleavened bread:)

whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.

Let them recall to their minds also how Peter, the chief of the apostles, "was thrown into prison, and delivered to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; "of whom, when he had escaped by night, and had been preserved out of the hand of the Jews by the commandment of the angel of the Lord, it is said, "As soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what w…

"four squads of four." That is, the total number sixteen; for four times four makes sixteen. Perhaps at each watch, that is, in the third watch, there were four guards. There are four guards called a tri-hour watch, as the twelve hours of the whole night being four watches; in each of which, with four soldiers guarding, all together make the number sixteen.

He commanded four quaternions of soldiers to guard him. This was due both to anger and to fear. The more careful the guard, the more amazing the manifestation of the power of God. And this happened on account of the apostle Peter, who was very well known.

Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly toGod concerning him.

And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison.

And lo, an angel of [the] Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.

He says that it shone so that they could both see and hear Peter and not think it a vision. The phrase "quickly [ἐν τάχει]" does not mean making a noise, but persuading not to delay. [CHRYSOSTOM]

And striking the side of Peter, he raised him up. The striking of the side is a commemoration of the passion of Christ, from whose wound our salvation flowed. And to us, too, who are held by the chains of pressures, the apostle Peter himself gives such solace, saying: "Since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention" (1 Peter 4).

But why did a light shine in the prison? So that Peter could both see and hear the Angel and so that he would not think it was an imagination. The Angel even struck him — so soundly was he sleeping. As for the expression "striking Peter on the side," it indicates not the Angel's confusion, but an urging not to delay.

And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.

"Rise," says he, "quickly:" this is not to hurry him but to persuade him not to delay. And immediately his chains fell off from his hands. How? answer me: where are the heretics? - let them answer.

Gird yourself and put on your sandals. And we read that prophets and apostles used belts, which Peter had loosened for a moment due to the rigidity of the prison, so that, with his tunic lowered around his feet, he could somewhat temper the cold of the night, providing an example to the weak that, when we are tempted by either bodily discomfort or human injury, it is permissibl…

How is it that Peter acted contrary to the command not to take "neither gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, nor a bag for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff" (Matt. 10:9–10)? Yet he had both clothing and sandals, although at that time one was supposed to go without sandals, since the particular need for them arises in winter.

And going forth he followed [him] and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.

And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.

And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that [the] Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And having become clearly conscious [in himself], he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying.

This also the presbyter [John] said: Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ.

"who was called Mark." In order to show that he does not mean John, who was always with them, he names his mother and gives his distinguishing nickname, for he says, "who was called Mark." This man was the same who wrote the Gospel according to Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, concerning whom Paul writes to Timothy: "Take Mark and bring him with you when you come, for he is useful…

Upon reflection, he saw that he should not simply continue on his way, but rather give thanks to the Benefactor. This John was perhaps not the one who constantly remained with the apostles.

And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda;

and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry.

And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.

Thus, too, does the angel, the witness of baptism, "make the paths straight" for the Holy Spirit, who is about to come upon us, by the washing away of sins, which faith, sealed in (the name of) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, obtains.

"It is his angel." From this it is clear that each one of us has an angel. But they expected this from the time. For he says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matt. 18:20) Where Christ is, there must be angels as well, and all the powers.

This is correct, because everyone has an Angel. With every believer in the Lord an Angel constantly abides, unless we drive him away by evil deeds, for just as smoke causes bees to depart and as a foul smell drives away doves, so the stinking and much-tear-causing sin distances the Angel from us.

But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him and were astonished.

And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related [to them] how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.

And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.

Some persons, it is likely, are at a loss how to explain it, that God should quietly look on while His champions are put to death, and now again the soldiers on account of Peter: and yet it was possible for Him after delivering Peter to rescue them also. But it was not yet the time of judgment, so as to render to each according to his deserts.

"Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers," etc. Now when day was come, a great argument arose among the prison guards as to how Peter had escaped so many watches of men and so many chains. When Peter could not be found, Herod became violently angry with the guards, whom he ordered to be put on trial. Herod himself went down to Caesarea and Judea.

And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed [there].

Descending from Judea into Caesarea. Although it seems according to the situation of the places to refer to Caesarea Philippi, which like Tyre and Sidon is a city of Phoenicia, Josephus nevertheless teaches that this was done in Caesarea of Palestine, which was once called Tower of Strato, and is situated on the shore of the Great Sea, at the border of Phoenicia and Palestine.

That the release of Peter should harm no one, Herod is not permitted to punish the guards.

For God it was possible to deliver the guards along with Peter. But if the Angel had led out the soldiers together with Peter, the event would have been considered a flight. And what grieved Herod more was that he had been mocked, just as his grandfather, who was deceived by the Magi, was also more tormented by the fact that he had been deceived.

And he was in bitter hostility with [the] Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's.

And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat [of honour], Herod made a public oration to them.

Immediately the flatterers cried out from different places, as if addressing a god and declaring him to be caring. Although until now we feared him as a man, from this point we confess him superior to nature. The king, however, did not rebuke them, nor did he turn away from impious flattery.

And he sat on the tribunal and preached to them. On the tribunal, he says in the tribunal. It is a custom of the Latin language to use 'pro' to mean 'in' with this word.

Josephus says that Herod, at the arrival of the following day, came to the theater dressed in a royal garment remarkable in its weaving, made entirely of silver. The silver, gleaming at the first fall of sunlight upon it, shone wondrously with a dazzling and awe-striking play of rays of light.

And the people cried out, Agod's voice and not a man's.

And immediately an angel of [the] Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory toGod, and he expired, eaten of worms.

We can point you also to the deaths of some provincial rulers, who in their last hours had painful memories of their sin in persecuting the followers of Christ. Vigellius Saturninus, who first here used the sword against us, lost his eyesight.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him. Consistently also according to Josephus: "While he did not shudder at the wickedness of illicit adulation, shortly after, looking, he sees an angel standing over his head; and immediately he felt him as the minister of his destruction, whom he had previously known as the provider of good things." And shortly after: "Indeed, tortured…

Josephus says that Herod, at the arrival of the following day, came to the theater dressed in a royal garment remarkable in its weaving, made entirely of silver.

But the word ofGod grew and spread itself.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service [entrusted to them], taking also with them John, surnamed Mark.

Acts12