Acts 12 19

Acts 12:19 kjv

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 Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Acts 12:19 nkjv

But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Acts 12:19 niv

After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

Acts 12:19 esv

And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Acts 12:19 nlt

Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 19 Meaning

The verse describes the severe punishment of the guards who were responsible for Peter's imprisonment and subsequent miraculous escape. Herod Antipas, the king, ordered their execution. This highlights the absolute power Herod wielded and the dire consequences of failing in his presence, even when the failure was due to divine intervention beyond the guards' control. It also demonstrates Herod's ruthless nature and his intent to assert his authority after such an embarrassing incident.

Acts 12 19 Context

Following Peter's miraculous escape from prison in Jerusalem (Acts 12:3-11), Herod the tetrarch (also referred to as Herod Agrippa I) was furious. The guards responsible for Peter’s custody were expected to ensure his security, and their failure, despite the extraordinary nature of Peter's release, was met with severe punishment. Herod’s actions in this chapter reveal his aggressive stance against the early church and his willingness to appease the Jewish populace by persecuting Christians. The Passover festival context (Acts 12:4) emphasizes that Herod's intention to execute Peter was to be a public spectacle, which was thwarted by Peter's divine deliverance. The guards' fate, described in verse 19, occurs after Herod's search for Peter proves fruitless, and he interrogates the prisoners about Peter’s disappearance.

Acts 12 19 Word Analysis

• ὣς (hōs) - Adverb; "when", "as", "so". Indicates the sequence of events following Herod's realization that Peter had escaped.

• δὲ (de) - Conjunction; "but", "and". Connects this event to the preceding narrative, highlighting the consequence.

• ἐπὶ (epi) - Preposition; "upon", "on", "at", "over". Here signifies being "over" or in charge of the soldiers.

• τὸ (to) - Definite article; "the".

• στρατόπεδον (stratopeḍon) - Noun, neuter singular; "camp", "guard post", "cohort of soldiers". Refers to the soldiers who were on duty or in charge of the prison.

• κατελθόντα (katelthonta) - Verb, aorist participle active, accusative masculine singular of καταβαίνω (katabainō); "having gone down", "having come down". This implies they descended from their post, likely to report to Herod or to face his inquiry after discovering Peter missing.

• ΚΑΙ (kai) - Conjunction; "and", "even".

• διερευνήσαντα (diereunēsa nta) - Verb, aorist participle active, accusative masculine singular of δια-ερευνάω (dia-ereunaō); "having thoroughly searched", "having strictly inquired". Describes the intense investigation initiated by Herod into Peter’s disappearance.

• εὑρεῖν (eurein) - Verb, present infinitive active of εὑρίσκω (heuriskō); "to find". The infinitive expresses the purpose or result of the thorough search.

• δὲ (de) - Conjunction; "but", "and".

• ἀπηγγέλη (apēngēlē) - Verb, aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular of ἀπαγγέλλω (apangellō); "was reported", "was announced". Indicates that the result of the search—the failure to find Peter—was officially communicated to Herod.

• καὶ (kai) - Conjunction; "and".

• μετατιθεὶς (metatitheis) - Verb, aorist participle passive, nominative masculine singular of μετατίθημι (metatithēmi); "having been transferred", "having been moved". Implies the soldiers' position or assignment changed due to the circumstances, leading to the subsequent judgment.

• τῶν (tōn) - Definite article, genitive plural neuter/masculine; "of the".

• φρουρῶν (phrourōn) - Noun, genitive plural masculine of φρουρός (phrourós); "guards". Refers specifically to those entrusted with guarding Peter.

• ἐπὶ (epi) - Preposition; "upon", "over", "for". Here implies they were responsible "for" the prisoners or subjected "to" Herod's judgment.

• ἀπαχθῆναι (apachthenai) - Verb, aorist infinitive passive of ἄγω (agō); "to be led away", "to be brought". Indicates the fate that befell the guards—they were condemned to be taken away for execution.

• Word-group Analysis:

  • "κατελθόντα... καὶ διερευνήσαντα... ἀπαχθῆναι" (katelthonta kai dieureunēsa nta kai apachthenai) - "having come down... and having thoroughly searched... to be led away". This sequence shows the soldiers' immediate action, investigation, and their eventual dire consequence for failing.
  • "τῶν φρουρῶν ἐπὶ ἀπαχθῆναι" (tōn phrourōn epi apachthenai) - "of the guards to be led away". This phrase clearly links the guards' status (possessive) with their condemned fate.

Acts 12 19 Bonus Section

This event serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual battle waged between God's power and human opposition. While Peter was divinely protected, the earthly consequences for his guards were severe, illustrating that not everyone involved in God's unfolding plans escapes unharmed from worldly powers. The chapter progresses to detail Herod's own demise shortly after this act (Acts 12:20-23), attributed by the people and Luke to divine judgment for his arrogance, contrasting sharply with Peter's deliverance. Herod's execution of the guards demonstrates his complete lack of understanding of the divine forces at play.

Acts 12 19 Commentary

Herod, upon discovering Peter's miraculous escape, did not question the possibility of divine intervention. Instead, his reaction was one of unadulterated anger and a ruthless desire to punish those he held responsible. The guards, who had faithfully executed their orders by placing Peter in secure custody and posting sentries, became the scapegoats for a situation beyond their control. Their fate—to be "led away"—is a grim understatement for execution, reflecting the harshness of Roman-occupied territories under rulers like Herod Agrippa I. This event underscores the persecution faced by early Christians and the extreme measures taken by authorities to suppress their message and movements. The thorough search by the guards (διερευνήσαντα) signifies that they were not negligent in their immediate duty of guarding the prison, yet even this diligence was insufficient to avert Herod's wrath.