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

Acts 12:19 details King Herod Agrippa I's fierce reaction to Peter's miraculous escape from prison. After an intense and unsuccessful search for Peter, Herod interrogated the guards responsible and, in accordance with Roman military protocol for negligence, ordered their immediate execution. Following this incident, he journeyed from Judaea to Caesarea, where he took up residence for a period. This verse showcases the extreme measures human power employs when challenged by divine intervention, simultaneously setting the stage for Herod's ultimate fate.

Acts 12 19 Context

Acts chapter 12 vividly describes a period of intense persecution of the nascent Christian church orchestrated by King Herod Agrippa I. Having gained favor with the Jewish populace through his political astuteness, Herod aimed to further solidify his position by attacking the Nazarene sect. He had already executed James, the brother of John. Subsequently, Herod arrested Peter with the intention of public execution after the Passover feast, guarding him with extreme measures – four squads of four soldiers each. However, the night before his intended execution, an angel miraculously freed Peter from the heavily guarded prison. Acts 12:19 directly follows this divine intervention, portraying Herod's enraged and punitive reaction to this humiliating setback, and detailing his geographical shift that ultimately places him in the location of his own demise. Historically, Herod Agrippa I was known for his ruthlessness and his political maneuvering to appease various factions, especially the Jewish religious authorities, which underpins his motivation for persecuting Christians.

Acts 12 19 Word analysis

• And when Herod: Refers to Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, who governed Judea, Samaria, and other regions. He was persecuting the early Christians, having recently executed James (Acts 12:2).
• had sought for him: (Greek: epizēteō, ἐπιζητέω) This signifies an earnest, diligent, and comprehensive search. Herod was not merely checking casually; he actively commanded a widespread hunt for Peter, underscoring his anger and determination to reassert control.
• and found him not: This phrase directly points to the complete success of Peter’s miraculous deliverance. Despite all of Herod’s human power and resources, Peter remained undiscovered, demonstrating the limits of earthly authority against divine will.
• he examined the keepers: (Greek: anakrinas, ἀνακρίνας) This term implies a formal, potentially severe, investigation or interrogation, often judicial in nature. It could have involved intense questioning, cross-examination, or even torture to determine fault or retrieve information from the Roman soldiers who had guarded Peter.
• and commanded that they should be put to death: A brutal yet historically consistent response under Roman military law. Soldiers responsible for an escaped prisoner could face the same sentence as the prisoner himself, which in Peter’s case was execution. This act served both as a consequence for perceived failure and as a stern warning against any future dereliction of duty, cementing Herod's tyrannical authority.
• And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea: Herod’s geographical relocation. "Down" accurately describes the movement from the hilly region of Jerusalem (in Judaea) to the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima. Caesarea was a significant Roman administrative center and often a royal residence, suggesting a strategic, rather than hasty, departure.
• and there abode: This signifies that Herod resided in Caesarea for a sustained period, implying a settling down rather than a fleeting visit. This detail sets the immediate stage for the events of Herod's own dramatic and swift demise, which occur a few verses later (Acts 12:20-23) in Caesarea.

Acts 12 19 Bonus section

The intensity of Herod's "seeking" (ἐπιζητέω) for Peter is heightened by the realization that Peter's miraculous escape left no physical trace of forced entry or tampering. This made the guards' failure inexcusable by human standards, regardless of the supernatural cause. Herod Agrippa I, unlike his grandfather Herod the Great, was generally well-regarded by Jewish leadership, making his persecution of the Christians a calculated move to secure political favor. His harsh response to the guards after Peter's disappearance could also be a strategic move to display firm governance, reinforcing his reputation as a ruler who tolerated no perceived weakness or challenge to his authority. This sequence of events further demonstrates Luke’s narrative technique in Acts: establishing human opposition as ultimately impotent against the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan for His church.

Acts 12 19 Commentary

Acts 12:19 is a stark illustration of human fury and futility in the face of divine power. Herod's furious reaction to Peter's escape—a diligent yet fruitless search, followed by the ruthless execution of the prison guards—reveals the extent of his worldly power and his desperate need to maintain control and avenge a profound humiliation. His actions, though barbaric, were a chilling adherence to the harsh Roman legal code concerning prisoner escapes, serving to enforce discipline and project an image of unyielding authority. The king's subsequent withdrawal to Caesarea is more than a simple change of residence; it reflects a retreat from the immediate scene of his political and personal embarrassment. This geographical shift ironically positions him precisely where he will soon face divine judgment, subtly contrasting the limited power of an earthly king, no matter how cruel, with the absolute sovereignty of God, whose will ultimately prevails.