Acts 12 4

Acts 12:4 kjv

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Acts 12:4 nkjv

So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Acts 12:4 niv

After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Acts 12:4 esv

And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

Acts 12:4 nlt

Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 4 Meaning

Acts 12:4 details King Herod Agrippa I's calculated imprisonment of Peter, following his execution of James. Peter was placed under an exceptionally heavy guard of sixteen soldiers, divided into four watches, ensuring no possibility of escape. Herod's explicit intention was to publicly try or execute Peter after the important Jewish festival of Passover, aiming to further solidify his popularity among the Jewish population. This verse highlights the profound human hostility and extensive measures taken against the early church, setting the stage for divine intervention.

Acts 12 4 Context

Acts chapter 12 marks a period of intensified persecution against the burgeoning Christian community in Jerusalem. Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, was a shrewd politician ruling Judea (41-44 AD) who sought to curry favor with the Jewish population. He had recently demonstrated this by executing James, the brother of John (Acts 12:2). Seeing that this action pleased the Jewish leaders, Herod extended his malice to Peter, a prominent figure in the early church. This verse describes the extreme measures Herod took to ensure Peter's confinement, motivated by political appeasement rather than justice. The imprisonment and heavy guard occur just before the Passover festival, a time when Jerusalem swelled with pilgrims, increasing the potential for public unrest, making the timing of an execution politically sensitive for Herod. His intent to parade Peter "after Easter" (meaning after Passover) suggests a plan for a public spectacle and execution that would further solidify his popularity once the holiday's religious fervor subsided. This set the stage for one of the most dramatic accounts of divine intervention in the New Testament.

Acts 12 4 Word analysis

• And when he had apprehended him: The verb here is Greek piasas (πιάσας), which signifies a forceful or violent seizure, a capture. It denotes an aggressive act of taking hold, not a peaceful invitation. Herod did not merely detain Peter; he had him arrested.
• he put him in prison: Greek etheto eis phylakēn (ἔθετο εἰς φυλακὴν). "Prison" (phylakēn) was a common means of control, but in this context, it was for more than just detention. It was a holding cell for someone intended for judgment or execution.
• and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him:
  • delivered him: Greek paredōken (παρέδωκεν), implying a formal handing over, common in judicial or military contexts, emphasizing the legal and organized nature of the custody.
  • four quaternions of soldiers: A "quaternion" (Greek: tetradion, τετράδιον) was a squad of four soldiers. Thus, four quaternions meant a total of sixteen soldiers. This was an extraordinarily high number of guards for a single prisoner. It speaks to Herod's determination to prevent Peter's escape, perhaps remembering previous angelic prison breaks (Acts 5:19-20). These soldiers would likely serve in four shifts, meaning at any given time, four soldiers were actively guarding Peter, perhaps even chained to him. This detail emphasizes the impossibility of a human escape.
  • to keep him: Greek phylassein auton (φυλάσσειν αὐτόν). This means "to guard him" or "to secure him," reinforcing the explicit purpose of the heavy guard: preventing escape.
• intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people:
  • intending: Greek boulomenos (βουλόμενος). This highlights Herod's deliberate and calculated plan. It wasn't an impulsive act but a thought-out strategy for maximum political impact.
  • after Easter: This is a crucial point. The Greek word here is meta to Pascha (μετὰ τὸ πάσχα). Pascha (πάσχα) invariably refers to "Passover" in the New Testament and Old Testament (Septuagint). The KJV translation "Easter" here is anachronistic and a mistranslation, as Easter (as a distinct Christian festival) had not yet developed, nor would Herod, a Jewish king, be observing it. Herod's timing of after Passover reflects a practical political concern, similar to the chief priests not wanting to arrest Jesus during the feast to avoid an uproar (Mt 26:5). He sought to avoid a disturbance among the crowds gathered for Passover but planned a public execution soon after.
  • to bring him forth to the people: Greek anagagein auton tō laō (ἀναγαγεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ). This indicates a public display, trial, or execution. Herod intended to put Peter on public trial or execute him, essentially making a public spectacle for the people, to gain their approval and affirm his own power, similar to how Pilate handled Jesus' case.

Acts 12 4 Bonus section

The mistranslation of "Pascha" as "Easter" in the King James Version for Acts 12:4 is one of its most frequently discussed points. It caused a long-standing misconception for many readers that Herod was observing a Christian holiday. This singular instance in the KJV of translating Pascha as "Easter" (instead of its typical 28 times as "Passover") shows the fluidity of English translation and evolving cultural associations. Understanding the correct translation, "Passover," is vital for comprehending Herod's motive, which was purely political, appealing to the Jewish authorities and people during their sacred festival, not celebrating a Christian observance. The extreme security measures Herod employed suggest a lesson learned from the previous escape of Peter and John in Acts 5, or an underlying fear that a divine power was at work to free these apostles. Herod's meticulous planning ultimately failed to account for God's superior plan, a testament to God's protection over His chosen instruments, despite seemingly insurmountable human barriers.

Acts 12 4 Commentary

Acts 12:4 encapsulates the meticulous and malicious human design against God's servant, Peter. Herod's actions reflect pure political opportunism: he executed James, it pleased the populace, so he moved against Peter. The scale of the guard—sixteen soldiers working in shifts—reveals an unparalleled level of security, driven by either genuine fear of divine intervention (after previous prison breaks) or an absolute commitment to eliminate Peter without fail. The deliberate waiting after Passover was a strategic move to leverage public spectacle while avoiding religious disruption during a holy season, aiming to maximize political gain. This verse vividly illustrates human power at its zenith of opposition to God's church, yet subtly foreshadows its ultimate futility. Herod, through his cunning plan and overwhelming force, creates the perfect stage for God's dramatic, unexpected deliverance, highlighting the stark contrast between human capability and divine sovereignty. The detail-oriented account of the prison arrangements elevates the subsequent miraculous escape to a more profound testament to God's omnipotence.