Acts 12:4
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
He 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.

Berean Literal Bible
whom also, having seized, he put in prison, having delivered him to four sets of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after the Passover to bring him before the people.

NASB 1995
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.

NASB 1977
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.

Legacy Standard Bible
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.

Amplified Bible
When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].

Christian Standard Bible
After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

American Standard Version
And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

Contemporary English Version
He put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after the festival.

English Revised Version
And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.

Good News Translation
After his arrest Peter was put in jail, where he was handed over to be guarded by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after Passover.

International Standard Version
When he arrested Peter, Herod put him in prison and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning to bring him out to the people after Passover season.

Majority Standard Bible
He 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.

NET Bible
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.

Weymouth New Testament
He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to the people.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whom also having seized, he put in prison, having delivered [him] to four squads of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover.

Berean Literal Bible
whom also, having seized, he put in prison, having delivered him to four sets of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Young's Literal Translation
whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.

Smith's Literal Translation
And having seized, he put him in prison, having delivered to four quaternions of soldiers to watch him; wishing after the pascha to bring him to the people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So when he had apprehended him, he sent him into prison, handing him over into the custody of four groups of four soldiers, intending to produce him to the people after the Passover.

New American Bible
He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.

New Revised Standard Version
When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So he seized him and put him in prison and delivered him to the care of sixteen soldiers to keep him, so that he might deliver him to the Jewish people after the passover.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he arrested him and cast him into prison and delivered him unto sixteen Soldiers to guard him so that after Passover he would deliver him to the people of Judea,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four tetrads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the passover.

Godbey New Testament
whom having seized, he also put in prison, having committed him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; wishing to bring him out to the people after the passover.

Haweis New Testament
Whom having apprehended, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep guard over him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people for execution.

Mace New Testament
having apprehended Peter, he put him into prison, appointing a detachment of sixteen soldiers to guard him, intending to have him brought to publick execution, after Easter.

Weymouth New Testament
He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to the people.

Worrell New Testament
And, having seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him up to the people.

Worsley New Testament
whom he seized and put into prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him out to the people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
James Killed, Peter Imprisoned
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. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.…

Cross References
Acts 5:18-19
and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. / But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Acts 16:23-26
And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. / About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ...

Acts 4:3
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

Acts 28:16
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Matthew 27:64-66
So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” / “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” / So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

John 18:12-13
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him. / They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

2 Timothy 2:9
for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!

Philippians 1:13
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. / But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Daniel 6:16-23
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” / A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. / Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. ...

Genesis 39:20-23
So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison, / the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. / And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done in the prison. ...

Jeremiah 37:15-21
The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. / So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time. / Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” ...

Jeremiah 38:6-13
So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. / Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, / Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, ...

1 Kings 22:27
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

Judges 16:21-30
Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison. / However, the hair of his head began to grow back after it had been shaved. / Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

he put.

Acts 4:3
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Acts 5:18
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

delivered.

Acts 16:23,24
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: …

Matthew 27:64-66
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first…

intending.

Acts 4:28
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Esther 3:6,7,13
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai…

Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Easter.

Jump to Previous
Apprehended Armed Arrested Arresting Bands Care Delivered Forth Four Guard Guarded Handing Herod Intended Intending Jail Lodged Passover Prison Public Purpose Purposing Seized Sixteen Soldiers Watch
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Apprehended Armed Arrested Arresting Bands Care Delivered Forth Four Guard Guarded Handing Herod Intended Intending Jail Lodged Passover Prison Public Purpose Purposing Seized Sixteen Soldiers Watch
Acts 12
1. King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter;
6. whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church.
20. Herod in his pride taking to himself the honor due to God,
23. is stricken by an angel, and dies miserably.
24. After his death, the word of God prospers.
25. Saul and Barnabas return to Antioch.














When he had seized him
The act of seizing Peter is a significant moment, reflecting the hostility of Herod Agrippa I towards the early Christian church. The Greek word used here is "συλλαμβάνω" (syllambanō), which means to capture or arrest. This word choice indicates a forceful and deliberate action, emphasizing the threat faced by the apostles. Historically, this period was marked by increasing persecution of Christians, as Herod sought to curry favor with Jewish leaders by suppressing the burgeoning Christian movement.

he put him in prison
The imprisonment of Peter is a recurring theme in Acts, symbolizing the trials and tribulations faced by early Christians. The Greek term "φυλακή" (phylakē) refers to a place of custody or a guard. This act of imprisonment is not just a physical confinement but also represents the spiritual and societal challenges that believers encounter. It serves as a reminder of the cost of discipleship and the resilience required to maintain faith amidst adversity.

handing him over to be guarded
The phrase "handing him over" comes from the Greek "παραδίδωμι" (paradidōmi), which means to deliver or entrust. This term is often used in the context of betrayal or delivering someone into the hands of others, as seen in the betrayal of Jesus. The act of guarding Peter with such intensity underscores the perceived threat he posed to Herod and the authorities. It highlights the spiritual battle between the forces of darkness and the light of the Gospel.

by four squads of four soldiers each
The deployment of "four squads of four soldiers" indicates the high level of security and the seriousness with which Herod viewed Peter's captivity. The Greek term "τετράδιον" (tetradion) refers to a group of four, and this arrangement suggests a rotating guard to ensure constant vigilance. This excessive security reflects Herod's fear of divine intervention, as seen in previous miraculous escapes by the apostles, and underscores the power of God to deliver His servants against overwhelming odds.

Herod intended to bring him out to the people
Herod's intention to "bring him out to the people" reveals his political motivations. The Greek word "προάγω" (proagō) means to lead forth or bring out. Herod's plan was to publicly display Peter, likely intending to execute him as a spectacle to gain favor with the Jewish populace. This reflects the political climate of the time, where leaders often used public executions to assert authority and suppress dissent.

after the Passover
The timing "after the Passover" is significant, as Passover is a major Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. The Greek term "Πάσχα" (Pascha) refers to this feast, which is a time of remembrance and hope for deliverance. Herod's decision to wait until after Passover to execute Peter may have been to avoid unrest during the holy festival. This timing also draws a parallel to the crucifixion of Jesus, who was also arrested and executed around Passover, highlighting the recurring theme of deliverance and resurrection in the face of persecution.

(4) Delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers.--Agrippa apparently followed the lessons of Roman practice which he had learnt by his own experience. The four quaternions relieved each other at set times, and the prisoner was chained to two of the soldiers of each company, while the others were stationed as sentinels at the door of the dungeon. (Comp. St. Paul's chains in Acts 28:20; Ephesians 6:20.)

Intending after Easter.--Better, after the Passover, as elsewhere. In this solitary instance the translators have introduced, with a singular infelicity, the term which was definitely appropriate only to the Christian festival which took the place of the Passover.

Verse 4. - Taken for apprehended, A.V.; guard for keep, A.V.; the Passover for Easter, A.V. Four quaternions; i.e. four bands of four soldiers each, which were on guard in succession through the four watches of the night - one quaternion for each watch. The Passover. This is a decided improve-merit, as the use of the word "Easter" implies that the Christian feast is here meant. But perhaps" Feast of the Passover" would have been better, as showing that the whole seven days are intended. This is, perhaps, the meaning of τὸ πάσχα in John 18:28, and certainly is its meaning here. We have another characteristic trait of the religion of Agrippa, and of his sympathy with the feelings of the Jews about the Law, that he would not allow a trial on a capital charge, or an execution, to take place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (comp. John 18:8). To bring him forth to the people. Still the same desire uppermost, to propitiate the people by gifts or shows, or by blood; ἀναγαγεῖν means exactly "to bring up" (Acts 9:39; Romans 10:7, etc.), either on to a stage or on some high ground, where all the people could see him condemned, which would be as good to them as an auto da fé to a Spanish mob, or a gladiatorial slaughter to a Roman audience (see ver. 11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
He arrested
πιάσας (piasas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4084: Probably another form of biazo; to squeeze, i.e. Seize (press), or officially (arrest), or in hunting (capture).

[him]
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

put [him]
ἔθετο (etheto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

prison,
φυλακήν (phylakēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5438: From phulasso; a guarding or, the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or, the time, literally or figuratively.

handing [him] over
παραδοὺς (paradous)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3860: From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit.

to be guarded
φυλάσσειν (phylassein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 5442: Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.

by four
τέσσαρσιν (tessarsin)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5064: Four. Or neuter tessara a plural number; four.

squads of four
τετραδίοις (tetradiois)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5069: Neuter of a presumed derivative of tetras; a quaternion or squad of four Roman soldiers.

soldiers [each].
στρατιωτῶν (stratiōtōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4757: A soldier. From a presumed derivative of the same as stratia; a camper-out, i.e. A warrior.

[Herod] intended
βουλόμενος (boulomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1014: To will, intend, desire, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to 'will, ' i.e. be willing.

to bring him out
ἀναγαγεῖν (anagagein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 321: From ana and ago; to lead up; by extension to bring out; specially, to sail away.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people
λαῷ (laō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

after
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Passover.
πάσχα (pascha)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3957: The feast of Passover, the Passover lamb. Of Chaldee origin; the Passover.


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NT Apostles: Acts 12:4 When he had arrested him he put (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
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