Acts 12:1-4·~1 min

James Killed, Peter Imprisoned

Herod reaches out to harm some who belong to the church and has James the brother of John put to death with the sword.

A¹bout that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. ²He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

Seeing that James's death pleases the Jews, Herod seizes Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He imprisons him under four squads of soldiers, intending to bring him out publicly after the Passover.

³And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. ⁴He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Section summaryAbout that time Herod lays violent hands on members of the church, executes James the brother of John with the sword, and then seizes Peter when he sees this pleases the Jews. Peter is placed under heavy guard during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with Herod intending to bring him out after Passover.

Role in the chapterThis opening movement gathers the chapter's danger quickly and plainly. It shows that the church's story is not protected from death, and it sets Peter's imprisonment under the same hostile power that has already killed James.