Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
But he, beckoning . . . with his hand to hold their peace—a lively touch this. In the hubbub of joyful and wondering interrogatories there might mingle reflections, thrown out by one against another, for holding out so long against the testimony of Rhoda; while the emotion of the apostle's own spirit would be too deep and solemn to take part in such demonstrations or utter a word till, with his hand, he had signified his wish for perfect silence.
Go show these things unto James and to the brethren—Whether James the son of Alpheus, one of the Twelve, usually known as "James the Less," and "James the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:19), were the same person; and if not, whether the James here referred to was the former or the latter, critics are singularly divided, and the whole question is one of the most difficult. To us, it appears that there are strong reasons for thinking that they were not the same person, and that the one here meant, and throughout the Acts, is the apostle James. (But on this more hereafter). James is singled out, because he had probably begun to take the oversight of the Church in Jerusalem, which we afterwards find him exercising (Acts 15:1-29).
And he departed, and went into another place—according to his Lord's express command (Matthew 10:23). When told, on a former miraculous liberation from prison, to go and speak unto the people (Acts 5:20), he did it; but in this case to present himself in public would have been to tempt God by rushing upon certain destruction.
he came to the house of Mary, etc.—who "must have had a house of some pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) was a person of substance (Acts 4:37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. To such a house it was natural that Peter should come.
mother of John . . . Mark—so called to distinguish him from the apostle of that name, and to distinguish her from the other Marys.
where many were gathered together praying—doubtless for Peter's deliverance, and continuing, no doubt, on this the last of the days of unleavened bread, which was their last hope, all night in prayer to God.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Acts 12:17:
Galatians 1:21
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