Acts 12:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Seeing that the execution pleased the crowds, Herod arrests Peter as well, during the feast of unleavened bread.
What Does Acts 12:3 Mean?
Herod acts not from conviction but from applause: the death of James won approval, so Peter is seized next. The days of unleavened bread were the week joined to Passover, when Jerusalem swelled with pilgrims — the same season in which Jesus himself had been arrested and crucified.
Cruelty becomes policy when rulers govern by crowd-pleasing, and the church learned early that popularity can be as dangerous as hatred. But Luke's quiet time-stamp carries hope: it is Passover, the feast of deliverance, when Israel remembered chains broken and death passing over. Peter waits in custody at the very season that celebrates the God who brings his people out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 12:3
What does Acts 12:3 mean?
Seeing that the execution pleased the crowds, Herod arrests Peter as well, during the feast of unleavened bread.