Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When he had taken him (piasav). See on Acts 3:7 for same form.
He put him in prison (eqeto eiv fulakhn). Second aorist middle indicative of tiqhmi, common verb. This is the third imprisonment of Peter (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18).
To four quaternions of soldiers (tessarsin tetradioiv stratiwtwn). Four soldiers in each quaternion (tetradion from tetrav, four), two on the inside with the prisoner (chained to him) and two on the outside, in shifts of six hours each, sixteen soldiers in all, the usual Roman custom. Probably Agrippa had heard of Peter's previous escape (Acts 5:19) and so took no chances for connivance of the jailors.
After the passover (meta to pasxa). The passover feast of eight days. "The stricter Jews regarded it as a profanation to put a person to death during a religious festival" (Hackett). So Agrippa is more scrupulous than the Sanhedrin was about Jesus.
To bring him forth (anagagein auton). Second aorist active infinitive of anagw, to lead up, old verb, used literally here. Peter was in the inner prison or lower ward and so would be led up to the judgment seat where Herod Agrippa would sit (cf. John 19:13).
To the people (tw law). Ethical dative, in the presence of and for the pleasure of the Jewish people.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 12:4:
Acts 12:6
Revelation 9:14
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