Acts 12:3

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

And {G2532} because he saw {G1492} it {G3754} pleased {G2076}{G701} the Jews {G2453}, he proceeded further {G4369} to take {G4815} Peter {G4074} also {G2532}.(Then {G1161} were {G2258} the days {G2250} of unleavened bread {G106}.)

When Herod saw how much this pleased the Judeans, he went on to arrest Kefa as well. It was during the Days of Matzah,

And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread.

Acts 12:3 describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian church's history, highlighting the political maneuvering and escalating persecution faced by the apostles.

Context of Persecution

This verse follows the grim account of King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, initiating a campaign of persecution against the burgeoning Christian community in Jerusalem. Having already executed James, the brother of John, with the sword (a detail found in Acts 12:2), Herod observed the reaction of the Jewish populace.

Herod's Motivation: Political Expediency

The phrase "because he saw it pleased the Jews" reveals Herod's primary motivation: political popularity and maintaining favor with the Jewish religious authorities and populace. This was not a theological conviction on Herod's part, but a strategic move to consolidate his power and influence. The early Christians, with their message of a crucified and risen Messiah, were seen by some Jewish factions as a deviation from traditional Judaism, making them an easy target for a ruler seeking to gain favor.

The Significance of the Days of Unleavened Bread

The parenthetical note, "(Then were the days of unleavened bread,)" is crucial for understanding the immediate sequence of events. The Days of Unleavened Bread immediately followed the Passover festival, a major pilgrimage holiday for Jews. During this sacred time, strict religious observances were in place, and public executions or trials were generally avoided to prevent defilement or disturbance of the holy season. Herod's decision to arrest Peter during this period, but delay his trial and execution, suggests a calculated move to avoid offending the religious sensibilities of the people during a holiday, while still intending to carry out his plan afterward. For more on this significant festival, see Exodus 12:15.

Key Themes

  • Persecution of the Church: This verse underscores the very real dangers faced by the early followers of Christ, who were often targeted by both political and religious authorities.
  • Political Motivation: It illustrates how rulers can use religious or ethnic tensions for their own political gain, prioritizing public approval over justice.
  • Divine Providence: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the delay caused by the Days of Unleavened Bread inadvertently created an opportunity for God's intervention, which unfolds in subsequent verses (Acts 12:5-11).

Practical Application

Acts 12:3 reminds us that opposition to faith can come from various sources, including those seeking public favor. It encourages believers to understand the context of persecution, whether historical or contemporary, and to trust in God's sovereign timing and protection, even when circumstances seem dire. It also serves as a warning against compromising truth for the sake of popularity or political expediency.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 23:15

    Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

  • Acts 24:27

    But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

  • John 12:43

    For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

  • Leviticus 23:6

    And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

  • Leviticus 23:14

    And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

  • Acts 25:9

    But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

  • Exodus 12:14

    And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

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