Acts 12

Acts 12:1

Ananias . . . putting his hands on him. Not to convey a gift, but as a friendly act, significant of God’s blessing. That thou mightest receive thy sight. His sight returned immediately after (Acts 9:18). And be filled with the Holy Ghost. There is no proof whatever that any spiritual gifts were imparted, nor that any but apostles could confer these gifts (see PNT Acts 6:8), and Paul always asserted that he received his signs of apostleship, not of men, but of Christ. See Galatians 1:1,11,12. The being “filled with the Holy Spirit” took place after the baptism at the hands of Ananias.

Acts 12:2

He . . . arose, and was baptized. The account is more fully given by Paul himself (Acts 22:13-16). Ananias said, “Receive thy sight, and in the same hour I looked upon him” (Acts 22:13). Then, after saying why the Lord had called him, he added: “Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Note (1) that “tarrying” for weeks or months before baptism was then unknown; (2) that there would be no necessity of “arising”, if water was applied in baptism, but there would be if he had to go to a place suitable for immersion; (3) that the term “wash” (Greek, “apolouo”, “bathe”) implies more than a sprinkling or pouring; (4) that neither Ananias nor Paul (Acts 22:16) understood that his sins were remitted before baptism. Compare Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16.

Acts 12:3

Then was Saul certain days with the disciples. In worship and intercourse with them. He must learn more experimentally of the church before preaching.

Acts 12:4

Straightway. Following this he began to preach Christ in the synagogues. “Jesus” in the Revised Version. He preached that the Crucified Jesus is the Son of God.

Acts 12:5

All that heard [him] were amazed. They had heard of his former zeal against the church and of his being sent to Damascus but as yet had not learned of his conversion.

Acts 12:6

Saul increased the more in strength. Grew continually in power to preach Christ.

Acts 12:7

After that many days were fulfilled. A long period, probably at least three years. Luke’s narrative is very condensed. He is not writing a history of Saul, but of the founding of the church. We learn from Paul that he spent at this time a long period in Arabia, and after this returned to Damascus (Galatians 1:16-18). It was at his return that this persecution broke out. The Jews took counsel to kill him. For additional information, see 2 Corinthians 11:32. At this time Damascus was in the temporary possession of Aretas, an Arabian potentate. Less scrupulous than the Roman rulers, he was willing to please Saul’s Jewish enemies, who were numerous and influential, by putting him to death.

Acts 12:8

They watched the gates. “The governor, under Aretas the king, kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me” (2 Corinthians 11:32).

Acts 12:9

Let [him] down by the wall. As the gates were guarded, there was no escape that way. Houses built against or on the wall, would afford an opportunity of letting him down on the outside. “And through a window, in a basket, was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands” (2 Corinthians 11:33).

Acts 12:10

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem. Three years had passed since he left the city, a proud, talented young Pharisee, with brilliant worldly prospects, the honored agent of the Sanhedrin, commissioned to stamp out Christianity at Damascus. He now returns a disciple of him whom he sought to destroy, his bright worldly prospects all forfeited, an outcast from his own nation, persecuted and hated. Why this change? No explanation is possible, save that given in this history and by himself. They were all afraid of him. Little was known in the church of the change. A great part of the three years were spent in Arabia, probably in study and preparation of his great work. They had known so much of his fury in the past that they feared him still. His appearance in the church would be much like that of Robert G. Ingersoll, “the great agnostic”, in a Christian convention.

Acts 12:11

Barnabas took him. Barnabas was a Hellenist (Acts 4:36), like Saul. When he vouched for him to the apostles, their distrust ended. Paul gives an account of this visit to the apostles in Galatians 1:18.

Acts 12:13

He . . . disputed against the Grecians. The Jews in Jerusalem who had been born in foreign countries and spoke the Greek language. See PNT Acts 6:1.

Acts 12:14

They brought him down to Caesarea. The same class of Jews who had raised the persecution against Stephen now sought the death of Saul. By the aid of the brethren he was taken to the seaport of Caesarea and sailed for his old home at Tarsus. Some think, however, from Galatians 1:21, that the journey was made by land through Syria. It is more likely that he sailed from Caesarea to Seleucia in Syria, and from thence made his way to Tarsus. Sent him forth to Tarsus. Four or five years pass before the next mention of Saul in Acts 12:25, an interval passed in preaching Christ (Galatians 1:22,23), and resulting in the planting of churches in Cilicia (Acts 15:23,41).

Acts 12:15

Then had the churches rest. After the departure of Saul there was a cessation of persecution for several years. The reason is found in the history of the times. The Roman emperor, Caligula, had ordered his statute to be placed in the temple at Jerusalem for worship, a desecration of the temple, and the Jews were too much engaged in their efforts to prevent this to persecute the church. Edified. Built up. Were multiplied. The result, always, of “walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit”.

Acts 12:16

As Peter passed throughout all [quarters]. Visiting the churches of Judea. At Lydda. A town in the seacoast plain, now called Ludd, not far from Joppa. Here he healed a cripple of eight years.

Acts 12:18

Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. Observe that he ascribes the power to Christ.

Acts 12:19

All that dwelt at Lydda and Saron. In the plain of Sharon, a term often applied to the seacoast plain between Joppa and Caesarea. See So 2:1. And turned to the Lord. The passage means, not that every soul turned, but that there was a general turning as the result of the miracle.

Acts 12:20

There was at Joppa. The seaport of Jerusalem from the times of David (2 Chronicles 2:16) to the present day, situated in a fertile plain now celebrated for its fine oranges, of which vast quantities are shipped from the port. Here named as the home of Tabitha, or Dorcas in the Greek (meaning “gazelle”), a saintly Christian noted for her deeds of love.

Acts 12:21

Washed . . . laid her in an upper chamber. Prepared for burial. The place was the large upper room on the upper floor of Eastern houses, usually used as a guest chamber.

Acts 12:22

They sent unto him two men. The fame of his miracles was so well known that they probably hoped that he might restore her to life.

Acts 12:23

The widows stood by him weeping. They had been the objects of her benevolence.

Acts 12:24

Peter put them all forth. Compare 1 Kings 17:19-23 2 Kings 4:32-36 Matthew 9:25. Perhaps that his whole soul might be fixed on the Lord in prayer. And kneeled down and prayed. It was on his knees that he was made to feel that the Lord had given him power. In his prayer he called on the name of Christ, was answered, and only needed to say, “Tabitha, arise”, and “she opened her eyes”. It was the first miracle in which death was overcome at the hands of an apostle.