Acts 12:3

3 When he saw that it pleased the Yehudim, he proceeded to seize Kefa also. This was during the days of matzah.

Acts 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:3

And because he saw it pleased the Jews
That is, as Beza's ancient copy adds, "his stretching out his hands upon the faithful"; this pleased the Jews, a bloodthirsty generation of men, who had killed the prophets, and the Lord Jesus, and who were now greedy after the death of the apostles: it may easily be seen from what principle and spirit Herod acted; it was not out of regard to the Jewish religion, rites, and ceremonies, but to ingratiate himself into the affections of the people:

he proceeded further to take Peter also;
a principal apostle, and who was well known, and against whom the Jews had doubtless a particular antipathy, and would have been glad to have been rid of him; this Herod was, sensible of, and therefore to please them, ordered him to be taken up:

then were the days of unleavened bread;
or the feast of the passover.

Acts 12:3 In-Context

1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

2 He killed Ya`akov, the brother of Yochanan, with the sword.

3 When he saw that it pleased the Yehudim, he proceeded to seize Kefa also. This was during the days of matzah.

4 When he had captured 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 Pesach.

5 Kefa therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.