Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Acts
Book: Acts
Chapter: 12
Overview:
The martyrdom of
James, and the imprisonment of
Peter.
(1-5)
He is delivered from
Prison By an
Angel.
(6-11) Peter departs,
Herod's rage.
(12-19) The
Death of Herod.
(20-25)
1-5 James was one of the sons of Zebedee, whom
Christ told that
they should
Drink of the
Cup that he was to
Drink of, and be
baptized with the
Baptism that he was to be baptized with, Mt
20:23. Now the words of
Christ were made good in him; and if we
suffer with
Christ, we shall reign with him. Herod imprisoned
Peter: the way of
Persecution, as of other sins, is downhill;
when men are in it, they cannot easily stop. Those make
themselves an easy prey to
Satan, who make it their business to
please men. Thus
James finished his course. But
Peter, being
designed for further services, was safe; though he seemed now
marked out for a speedy
Sacrifice. We that live in a cold,
prayerless
Generation, can hardly form an idea of the
earnestness of these holy men of old. But if the
Lord should
bring
On the
Church an awful
Persecution like this of Herod, the
Faithful in
Christ would learn what soul-felt
Prayer is.
6-11 A peaceful
Conscience, a lively
Hope, and the consolations
of the Holy
Spirit, can keep men calm in the full prospect of
Death; even those very persons who have been most distracted
with terrors
On that account.
God's time to help, is when things
are brought to the last extremity.
Peter was assured that the
Lord would cause this trial to
End in the way that should be
most for his
Glory. Those who are delivered out of spiritual
imprisonment must follow their Deliverer, like the Israelites
when they went out of the
House of
Bondage. They knew not
whither they went, but knew whom they followed. When
God will
work
Salvation for his people, all difficulties in their way
will be overcome, even gates of
Iron are made to open of their
own accord. This deliverance of
Peter represents our
Redemption
By Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but
brings them out of the
Prison-
House.
Peter, when he recollected
himself, perceived what great things
God had done for him. Thus
souls delivered out of spiritual
Bondage, are not at first aware
what
God has wrought in them; many have the
Truth of
Grace, that
want evidence of it. But when the
Comforter comes, whom the
Father will send, sooner or later, he will let them know what a
blessed change is wrought.
12-19 God's
Providence leaves room for the use of our prudence,
though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has
begun. These Christians continued in
Prayer for
Peter, for they
were truly in
Earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to
faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a
Mercy, we must
continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most
earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe. The
Christian Law of self-denial and of suffering for
Christ, has
not done away the natural
Law of caring for our own safety
By
lawful means. In times of public danger, all believers have
God
for their hiding-place; which is
So secret, that the world
cannot find them. Also, the instruments of
Persecution are
themselves exposed to danger; the wrath of
God hangs over all
that engage in this hateful work. And the range of persecutors
often vents itself
On all in its way.
20-25 Many
Heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours,
but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the
Word
and
Worship of the living
God, to accept such idolatrous honours
without rebuking the
Blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when
puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening
Fast for signal
vengeance.
God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be
glorified upon those whom he is not glorified
By. See what vile
bodies we carry about with us; they have in them the seeds of
their own dissolution,
By which they will soon be destroyed,
whenever
God does but speak the
Word. We may learn
Wisdom from
the people of
Tyre and
Sidon, for we have offended the
Lord with
our sins. We depend
On him for
Life, and breath, and all things;
it surely then behooves us to humble ourselves before him, that
through the appointed
Mediator, who is ever ready to befriend
us, we may be reconciled to him, lest wrath come upon us to the
utmost.