And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
- BSB After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.
- NKJV But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
- NASB When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.
- NLT Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Failing to find Peter, Herod examines the guards, orders their execution, and withdraws to Caesarea. The tyrant lashes out but cannot reverse God's work.
Overview
Herod's harsh sentence on the guards reflects Roman custom and his own cruelty. Unable to recapture his prisoner, he leaves Jerusalem for Caesarea, the seat of Roman government in the region. The narrative moves Herod toward the judgment that will fall on him, showing that those who oppose God's people stand under God's hand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Acts 16:27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
- Ps 37:32–33The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
- John 12:10–11But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
- Esth 6:12And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
- Acts 21:8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
- Acts 12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
- 1 Sam 23:14And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
- Matt 2:13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
- Dan 2:11–13And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
- 1 Kgs 20:43And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
- Acts 12:6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
- Acts 8:40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
- Acts 27:42And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
- Matt 28:11–15Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
- Jer 36:26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.
- Matt 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
- Acts 25:13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
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Original language
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