Acts 12:19
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode.
Herod had James killed and imprisoned Peter intending to put him to death, but God sent an angel to rescue Peter, and when Herod searched for him and failed to find him he examined the keepers and ordered them put to death. Peter was gone from a heavily secured prison while bolts, bars and chains remained in place and the keepers who were answerable for his life kept especially vigilant guard. The keepers were charged with sleeping at their post and were executed without mercy as Herod vented his anger, disappointment and mortification in revenge for the escape. Herod knew that no human power had rescued Peter, yet he refused to acknowledge that God had thwarted his plan and instead defiantly set himself against God. He later recalled this merciless act with his persecution and plan to kill Peter as guilt for which God was dealing with him, and he was afterward judged by God and died a horrible death while exalting himself.
Setting and Miraculous Deliverance
The government of Judea was in the hands of Herod Agrippa, subject to Claudius the Roman emperor, while Herod also held the position of tetrarch of Galilee. He was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith and apparently very zealous in carrying out the ceremonies of the Jewish law. Desirous of obtaining the favor of the Jews and hoping thereby to make secure his offices and honors, he carried out their desires by persecuting the church of Christ, spoiling the houses and goods of the believers and imprisoning the leading members of the church.
This occurred in Herod's persecution in which he had James killed and then imprisoned Peter intending to put him to death, but God sent an angel to deliver and rescue Peter. The keepers were held responsible and answerable for their prisoner's life, and they were especially vigilant, yet Peter escaped from a heavily secured prison while the guard remained. The prison appeared secure, with guard, bolts, bars, and chains remaining in place, but Peter was gone. God had thwarted Herod's purpose despite all the precautions taken to prevent the escape.
Herod's Defiance and Judgment
After searching for Peter and failing to find him, Herod examined and questioned the keepers, accused them of failing in duty and unfaithfulness, held them responsible for their prisoner's life, and ordered them put to death. The stated charge brought against them was the alleged crime of sleeping on duty at their post.
The execution was carried out without mercy, as Herod in anger, disappointment, rage, and mortification over the escape took revenge on the guards for what had happened. He knew that no human power had rescued Peter, yet he refused to acknowledge that God had thwarted and frustrated his plan and instead defiantly and openly set himself against God. The deliverance had thwarted his purpose to put Peter to death, but he would not confess God's power at work.
He later remembered this merciless act, together with his persecution of Christ's followers and his plan to kill Peter, as part of the guilt for which he believed God was judging and dealing with him. He recalled that God had rescued Peter from death and from his intent to kill him. That memory stood as a witness that his cruelty to the guards belonged to his wider war against the church.
He was afterward judged by God and died, receiving divine judgment after persecuting the church by having James killed and intending to put the angel-delivered Peter to death. That death was horrible, coming upon him while he was exalting himself before a crowd. As Herod Agrippa I he occupied the throne of Antipas and continued the same persecuting spirit through a different ruler.