Acts 12 3

Acts 12:3 kjv

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Acts 12:3 nkjv

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:3 niv

When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:3 esv

and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:3 nlt

When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration. )

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 3 Meaning

Herod Agrippa I, observing that the prior execution of James had garnered significant approval from influential Jewish factions hostile to the burgeoning Christian movement, made a calculated decision to further intensify his persecution by arresting the apostle Peter as well. This arrest strategically occurred during the sacred Days of Unleavened Bread, immediately following Passover, hinting at a plan to publicly execute Peter after the conclusion of the festival for maximum impact and continued public favor.

Acts 12 3 Context

This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the book of Acts, detailing a heightened period of persecution against the early church. It follows immediately after King Herod Agrippa I had already demonstrated his hostility by executing James, the brother of John. Herod's motive, explicitly stated, was not justice or conviction, but to curry favor with "the Jews," likely referring to the influential anti-Christian factions within the Jewish religious establishment and the populace. Herod, as a Roman-appointed client king of Judea, needed to maintain popular support to stabilize his rule. Therefore, perceiving that James's death was well-received, he chose to escalate his persecution by targeting Peter, one of the most prominent apostles. The phrase "Then were the days of unleavened bread" is a crucial historical marker, signifying the time when this arrest occurred. This festival immediately followed Passover and typically lasted for seven days, during which time judicial executions were often avoided, thus explaining why Peter was imprisoned rather than immediately put to death, and creating a critical window for the dramatic events that would soon unfold.

Acts 12 3 Word analysis

• And because he saw (Καὶ ἰδὼν δὲ - Kai idōn de): "He" refers to Herod Agrippa I. This phrase highlights that Herod's actions were based on observation and a calculated political assessment of public reaction. Idōn, from horao (to see, perceive), emphasizes his deliberate decision, not one based on a whim.
• that it pleased (ἀρεστὸν ἦν - areston ēn): This explicitly states Herod's motivation: seeking popular approval. Arestos signifies something agreeable or gratifying. His aim was to secure public favor rather than to enforce justice or divine will.
• the Jews (τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις - tois Ioudaiois): Here, "the Jews" refers specifically to those influential Jewish factions in Jerusalem—likely the Sadducees, Pharisees, and their followers—who strongly opposed the Christian movement, considering it a heresy. It distinguishes them from Jewish believers in Christ.
• he proceeded further (προσετίθετο - prosetitheto): This imperfect tense verb implies an ongoing action or an intention to do more, indicating an escalation of his oppressive campaign. Prostithēmi means to add, to go on, or to do in addition. This was a sustained policy of persecution.
• to take Peter (πιάσαι Πέτρον - piasai Petron): Piazō (to seize, apprehend) implies a forceful arrest. Peter was a prominent leader and spokesperson for the apostles, making him a prime target for Herod's attempts to decapitate the church's leadership after James.
• also (καὶ - kai): This small word significantly links Peter's arrest to James's execution, establishing a clear pattern and continuity in Herod's persecutory strategy against the church's leaders.
• Then were the days of unleavened bread (ἦσαν δὲ αἱ ἡμέραι τῶν ἀζύμων - ēsan de hai hēmerai tōn azytōn): This provides crucial temporal and cultural context. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which immediately followed Passover, Nisan 15-21) was a major annual Jewish festival. Executions or significant public events were often avoided during this sacred period, thus creating a providential delay for Peter's actual fate and setting the stage for divine intervention.

Words-group analysis

• "And because he saw that it pleased the Jews": This phrase exposes the deep flaw in Herod's governance: he acted purely on political opportunism, prioritizing human applause and approval from anti-Christian elements over righteousness, justice, or the will of God. It's a classic example of worldly rulers seeking power through appeasement.
• "he proceeded further to take Peter also": This highlights the escalation and systematic nature of the persecution. Having found success in pleasing the anti-Christian factions by killing James, Herod sought to build on that success by targeting another prominent, if not the most prominent, apostle. The inclusion of "also" underlines the calculated and sequential nature of his attacks on the church's leadership.
• "(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)": This parenthetical clause provides essential chronological information. It explains why Peter was arrested and imprisoned rather than immediately executed. The timing during a major festival likely necessitated a delay, inadvertently creating a crucial window of opportunity for God to act, demonstrating divine timing and sovereignty even amidst human malevolence.

Acts 12 3 Bonus section

• Herod Agrippa I, unlike some of his Herodian predecessors, was meticulous in observing Jewish law and traditions publicly, aiming to portray himself as a devout Jew to gain legitimacy and affection from his subjects. This context further emphasizes that his persecution of the Christians was a politically calculated act, rather than an act of deep personal religious conviction against their beliefs.
• The dramatic contrast between the execution of James and the miraculous deliverance of Peter within the same chapter underscores a critical theological point: God's ways are beyond human understanding. While He permits some of His faithful servants to suffer martyrdom, He chooses to intervene powerfully for others. Both outcomes fulfill His sovereign purposes and advance His kingdom.
• The phrase "the Jews" here, as in other parts of Acts, must be understood contextually to refer to specific segments of the Jewish populace, particularly the Jerusalem elite and their followers who vehemently rejected Jesus as Messiah. It does not imply a condemnation of all Jewish people, many of whom were part of the early church.

Acts 12 3 Commentary

Acts 12:3 offers a piercing glimpse into the worldly machinations of Herod Agrippa I, driven not by a pursuit of truth or justice, but by a craven desire for public popularity and political favor among the influential Jewish factions hostile to Christianity. His cold, calculated decision to arrest Peter, following the well-received execution of James, marks an escalation of persecution aimed at debilitating the leadership of the early church. The specific timing of the arrest during "the days of unleavened bread" is profoundly significant. While Herod likely intended this delay to make Peter's public execution an even greater spectacle after the holy festival, it inadvertently provided the precise window for God's dramatic, miraculous intervention. This verse underscores the conflict between earthly powers operating on human logic and expediency, and the sovereign will of God, who can use even wicked intentions and societal norms to set the stage for His divine plan. Ultimately, Herod's actions, designed to destroy the church, served only to highlight God's power to protect His chosen apostles.