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.
