Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
- BSB About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
- NKJV Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
- NASB Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm.
- NLT About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church.
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
About that time King Herod began to persecute some in the church. The church faces violent opposition from a ruler.
Overview
Herod Agrippa I, seeking favor with the Jewish leaders, turns his power against the believers. After the joy of expanding mission, Luke records fresh suffering, showing that the gospel's advance meets hostility. Yet the chapter will reveal God's sovereign protection over His church amid such threats.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 24:9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
- John 15:20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
- Matt 10:17–18But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
- Luke 22:53When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
- John 16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
- Acts 4:30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
- Acts 9:31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 12:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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