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Acts 12:1–5. At that time, King Herod raised his hands against some of the church to do them harm, and killed James, John's brother, with the sword. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread. And, having detained him, he put him in prison, and ordered four quartets of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after Easter. So Peter was kept in prison; Meanwhile, the church diligently prayed to God for him. What time? Under Claudius the Emperor. Because the Roman emperor Claudius appointed Agrippa king of the Jews, assigning Herod and Herodias to Lugdon, a city in Galilee. This is the same Herod under whom John suffered, as Joseph and Eusebius relate. So, this discrepancy in the name, that is, instead of Agrippa it is said - Herod, occurred either because he bore two names, or because of a scribe's error. Note: of the twelve disciples of the Lord, Jacob suffered first of all. "On some of those belonging to the church". Notice that faithful men and the society they consist of are called the church. “Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also.” So that no one can say that the apostles fearlessly and fearlessly go towards death because God snatches them from its hands, this is why God allowed the oldest of them, Stephen and James, to be put to death. By this, God shows the murderers themselves that He does not remove them from this and does not hinder them here. For their inappropriate passions, murder was a pleasant thing, and murder was lawless. It was necessary to put an end to their aspiration, and Herod, as the executioner of the sick, and not as their doctor, incites them, although he saw thousands of examples in the life of his grandfather and father Herod. “Then were the days of unleavened bread... when he detained him, he put him in prison.” Again, the excessive scrupulousness of the Jews is revealed: they did not prevent killing, but they prevented it from being done at such a time. “I ordered four quartets of warriors to guard him.” This happened both from anger and from fear. The more careful the guard was, the more amazing the discovery of the power of God. And this happened for the sake of the Apostle Peter, who was very famous. “Meanwhile, the church diligently prayed to God for him.” Listen to how they interceded for the teachers: they were not indignant, did not rebel, but turned to the true companion - prayer. Acts 12:6–10. When Herod wanted to take him out, that night Peter slept between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the guards at the door guarded the prison. And behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared, and light shone around the prison. The angel, pushing Peter in the side, woke him up and said: get up quickly. And the chains fell from his hands. And the Angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your shoes.” He did so. Then he says to him: put on your clothes and follow me. Peter went out and followed him, not knowing that what the Angel was doing was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision. Having passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gates leading into the city, which opened to them of their own accord: they went out and walked one street, and suddenly the Angel was not with him. Peter was neither embarrassed nor in fear, but on “that” very “night” when they intended to take him out of prison, he “slept”, leaving everything to the will of the Lord. Pay attention to how carefully the guards were: the guards also slept with him. But why did “the light shine upon the prison?” So that Peter could both see and hear the Angel and not think that this was imagination. The angel even pushed him, he was sleeping so soundly. As for the expression “pushing Peter in the side,” it does not indicate the Angel’s embarrassment, but an urge not to delay time. “Gird yourself and put on your shoes.” How did Peter act contrary to the command not to take with him “neither gold, nor silver, nor copper in his belts, nor a scrip for the road, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff” (Matthew 10:9-10)? And he had both clothes and shoes, although at that time it was necessary to walk without shoes, because there was a special need for them in winter. But Paul, having written to Timothy: “Try to come before winter,” says to him: “When you go, bring the phelonion that I left in Troas with Carp” (2 Tim. 4:13:21). No one can say that Paul did not have other clothes that he wore. They did not resist the command of Christ: let it not be! On the contrary, they even followed the command very closely, because this command was given for a time, and not forever. In addition, Luke says that Christ said to the disciples: “When I sent you without bag and without scrip and without sandals, did you lack anything? They answered: nothing. Then He said to them: but now whoever has a bag, take it, and also the scrip” (Luke 22:35-36). Christ gave such a command at that time, wanting to show His power, because, tell me, what importance was it in having only clothes? So, which one? When it was necessary to wash it, was it really necessary to walk naked or sit at home? And when severe cold set in and the cold tightened around the body, was it really necessary to warm up and not preach? After all, their bodies were not of diamond strength. “Not knowing that what the Angel was doing was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision.” This is very natural given the amazing extraordinary nature of what happened, because the extraordinary nature of the signs amazes the viewer. Peter thought he was seeing a vision, but he himself was girding himself and putting on his shoes. What else could he feel if not amazement? Acts 12:11–18. Then Peter, coming to his senses, said: Now I truly see that the Lord sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from everything that the people of the Jews were waiting for. And, having looked around, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, called Mark, where many were gathered and praying. When Peter knocked at the gate, a maid named Rod came out to listen; and, recognizing Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but, running in, announced that Peter was standing at the gate. And they said to her: are you out of your mind? But she asserted her point. They said: this is his angel. Meanwhile, Peter continued to knock. When they opened it, they saw him and were amazed. He, giving a sign with his hand to remain silent, told them how the Lord brought him out of prison, and said: notify Jacob and the brothers about this. Then, leaving, he went to another place. When the day came, there was great concern among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. Now, he says, he has learned, “now I see truly,” and not then. The angel wished that Petrovo’s heart would suddenly be filled with joy and that he would understand what had happened after his release. "Looking Around". On reflection, he saw that he should not continue the path straight, but thank the Benefactor. "John called Mark". John, perhaps, was not the one who was constantly with the apostles. That is why the writer added his difference, as he said: “called Mark.” Perhaps this is the Evangelist Mark, through whom Peter is said to have transmitted his Gospel, since the Gospel of Mark is said to be Peter’s Gospel. This assumption is justified by the fact that Peter and the other apostles spent quite a lot of time with him. “For joy she did not open the gate.” Pay attention to the reverence of the young woman: “for joy,” they say, “she did not open it.” But it turned out perfectly, otherwise the others, amazed at his unexpected appearance, probably would not have believed that it was him, since they did not want to believe it either. “They said: This is his angel.” This is true because everyone has an Angel. An Angel constantly stays with everyone who believes in the Lord, unless we drive him away with evil deeds, for just as smoke makes bees move away and just as stench drives away doves, so stinking sin, which causes many tears, drives the Angel away from us. And they expected that it was an Angel, considering their position, because it is said: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). And where Christ is, the Archangels and other forces must be there. “He said: Notify Jacob and the brothers about this.” How unconceited he is! He didn’t say “notify everywhere,” but “notify... the brothers.” “After leaving, I went to another place.” This is because he did not want to test God and lead himself into temptation. The angel did not tell him about this; but by leaving him in silence and leading him out of prison at night, he gave him permission to leave, since the apostles had already done what they were commanded - to go to the church to preach to the people. Acts 12:19–20. Herod, having searched for him and not finding him, judged the guards and ordered them to be executed. Then he went from Judea to Caesarea and remained there. Herod was annoyed with the Tirians and Sidonians; They, having agreed, came to him and, having won over Vlast, the king’s bedfellow, to their side, they asked for peace, because their region was fed from the royal region. It was possible for God to deliver the “guards” together with Peter. But if the Angel had led out the soldiers along with Peter, then the event would have been considered an escape. Herod was more saddened by the fact that he was ridiculed, just as his grandfather, deceived by the Magi, was also more tormented by the fact that he was deceived. “Herod was irritated with the Tirians and Sidonians...” Luke mentioned this story, from which it is clear how Herod immediately suffered punishment. Acts 12:21–24. On the appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal clothing, sat on an elevated place and spoke to them; and the people exclaimed: This is the voice of God, and not of man. But suddenly the Angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God; and he, having been eaten by worms, died. The Word of God grew and spread. Josephus says that Herod, when the next day arrived, arrived at the theater, dressed in amazing fabric, all made of silver “royal clothes”. The silver, which shone when the sun's rays first fell on it, shone amazingly with some kind of shimmering rays of light that amazed and horrified the audience; and the flatterers immediately began to call him god, adding: “Be merciful; if until now we feared you as a person, then from now on we recognize that you are above human nature.” Notice how they flattered, but turn your attention to the greatness of the spirit of the apostles. Whom the whole people revered so much, they despised. However, if the flatterers shouted like that, then what does this have to do with Herod? That he accepted this cry, that he considered himself worthy of such flattery. It is mainly to them that they are taught such reckless flattery. So, both of them deserved punishment, but since it is not yet time for judgment, only the one who is especially guilty is punished. If he, who allowed himself to listen only to this opinion about himself: “the voice of God, and not man,” suffered such shame, then Christ would have been punished much more if he had not been God himself, Christ, who constantly said: “These words are not Mine” and: “The angels serve Me.” Acts 12:25. And Barnabas and Saul, having completed their assignment, returned from Jerusalem [to Antioch], taking with them John, nicknamed Mark. You might be interested in: