Acts 12:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Nor was it Peter who handed them over into Herod's hands. Herod was especially offended because he had been deceived, just as his grandfather had been deceived by the Magi. This especially irritated him and made him look ridiculous.

But we should hear the writer's own words. “When day came,” he says, “there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

“And Herod, after searching for him and not finding him, examined the guards and ordered that they be put to death.” Yet he had heard from them, for he “examined the guards and ordered that they be put to death.”

He had heard that the chains had been left, that Peter had taken his sandals, and that he had been with them until that very night. What then had they hidden? And why did they not flee themselves?

Truly, this ought to have amazed him and struck him with wonder. Afterward their death revealed before all both the miracle of God and the impiety of Herod.

See how the writer does not conceal this, but narrates the historical event in order to instruct us.

But let us return to what was said above. “When day came,” he says, “there was no small disturbance among the soldiers” because of Peter. He “examined the guards and ordered that they be put to death.”

He was so unfeeling that he even resolved to punish unjustly. I will speak in their defense.

The chains were there. The guards were inside. The prison was locked. The wall had not been dug through anywhere. All said the same thing in agreement. The prisoner had not been stolen.

Why then do you condemn them? If they had wished to release him, they would either have released him earlier or gone away with him.

Perhaps they took money? But how could the man who was unable to give alms to a beggar have given them money?

The chains were neither broken nor untied. One could see that this was the work of God, not of man. Thus, as though perplexed and ashamed, he went down from Judea to Caesarea.

“The first suffered many calamities for the slaughter of the infants (see Mt 2:16), and the second, who killed John the Baptist, waged a cruel war.”

“He was so unfeeling that he even resolved to punish unjustly. The chains were there, the prison was locked, the wall had not been dug through anywhere, and all said the same thing in agreement, that he had been with them.

“The prisoner had not been stolen. But did they take money? How could the man who could not give to a beggar have given them money?

“One could see that this was the work of God, not of man. But why did they not flee themselves? Truly, this ought to have amazed Herod and struck him with wonder.

“Indeed, their death makes evident both the miracle of God and the impiety of Herod.”

“What grieved Herod most of all was that he had been mocked, just as his grandfather also had been troubled because he was mocked by the Magi.”

Herod was ashamed for himself and for the soldiers, and therefore hastened to leave Jerusalem and go to Caesarea. His irritation did not leave him even there, and it ended very sorrowfully for him.