Acts 12:5

"When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover."

Key Reflection

In first-century Judea, the Passover was a sacred festival where political tensions ran high as Jews from across the region gathered in Jerusalem. Herod Antipas's decision to arrest and imprison John the Baptist during this time would have been seen as an act of defiance against Jewish customs and a potential provocation. By placing John under guard with sixteen soldiers, Herod intended not only to ensure his safety but also to use him as leverage or to make a public spectacle of him after the Passover, highlighting his authority and control over religious matters.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. But prayer was made. The church was apprized of his imprisonment and danger; and had no resource but to apply to God by prayer. In scenes of danger there is no other refuge; and the result shows that, even in most discouraging circumstances, God can hear prayer. Nothing scarcely could appear more hopeless than the idea of rescuing Peter out of the hands of Herod, and out of the prison, and out of the custody of sixteen men, by prayer. But the prayer of faith was prevalent with God. Without ceasing. Intense, steady, ardent prayer. The word here used, ektenhv, is found in but one other place in the New Testament.

Related Verses

More from Acts 12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion