Herod Attacks the Apostles
Acts 12:1-19
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And
because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4
And 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.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without
ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And 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. 7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the
prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up
quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel
said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he
saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed
him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he
saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward,
they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them
of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and
forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to
himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel,
and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of
the people of the Jews. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he
came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where
many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the
door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when
she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and
told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her,
Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they,
It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had
opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he,
beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things
unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 18
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was
become of Peter. 19 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.
Introduction:
Survey the major events from Acts 1-11 bringing Herod,
the Jews, the Apostles, and the Church to this point in their relationships and
responses. Consider what precipitated
this sequence of events.
Outline:
I. Apostolic
Arrests (12:1-5) - Herod murders James and plans to murder Peter
II. Angelic
Assistance (12:6-10) - Peter miraculously released from prison
III. Allies
Astonished (12:11-16) - Peter left standing at the gate
IV. Agrippa Aggravated
(12:17-19) - Peter’s disappearance results in executions
I. Apostolic
Arrests (12:1-5) - Herod murders James and plans to murder Peter
1 Now about that time Herod the
king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And
because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4
And 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.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without
ceasing of the church unto God for him.
1. Herod[1]
This is the grandson of Herod the Great, and the fourth
of the “Herods” mentioned in the New Testament.
He had himself been imprisoned in Rome at one time. He was educated with the Emperor, and had won
a degree of favor with the Jews as he consolidated his political power. He could trace a line of descent on his
father’s side from Idumeans, “the Hellenistic name for Edom and southern
Judaea” who “were always suspect…in the eyes of the Jews”,[2]and considered to be “half-Jews”.[3]
2. James
One of the three “inner circle” Apostles consisting of
Peter, James and John.
3. because
he saw it pleased the Jews
Herod was the consummate politician.
4. the
days of unleavened bread
It would have been offensive to the Jews to execute
someone during the feast.
5. four quarternions of soldiers
Four squads of four soldiers each for six hour shifts,
two in the cell on each side of the prisoner, and two outside the cell door,
one on each side.
6. Easter - This is an inexcusable
and indefensible bad “translation”! Indeed, it is not a translation at all, and
hardly qualifies even as a dynamic equivalent due to following: 1) the inherent anachronism, 2) the
covenantal discontinuity between the Jewish Passover and the Christian
celebration of the crucifixion of Christ, and, 3) what many refer to as
“Easter” corresponds neither to the Jewish Passover nor the crucifixion since
it is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. There was no such thing as “Easter” at this
time, and certainly not among the Jews of the 1st century! Any one of these objections would be
sufficient to rule out this translation.
Therefore, in agreement with all translations since the 1611 KJV, “Passover”
is the only valid English rendering! Furthermore,
what many find offensive about the term is its Old English basis in ancient
idolatrous beliefs.[4] This would have been equally offensive to
both the first century Jews still observing the Passover, and the early
Christians. This is one of those times when I am reading the King James translation
publicly when I do not hesistate to correct it![5]
The stage is now set for an episode that has been
described as “…one of the most delightful and engaging narratives in all of
Acts”, the two scenes of which are “related with consummate artistry….a vivid,
almost comic touch….entertaining….and also a decidedly dramatic effect.”[6]
II. Angelic
Assistance (12:6-10) - Peter miraculously released from prison
6 And 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. 7 And,
behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison:
and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.
And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto
him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto
him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed
him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he
saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward,
they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them
of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith
the angel departed from him.
Picture this!
1. The opening
scene (12:6)
2. The angelic
smiting (12:7a-c)
3. The angelic
instuctions (12:7d-8) - 5 instructions:
1) Arise
up quickly (12:7d)
2) Gird
thyself (12:8b)
3) bind
on thy sandals (12:8c)
4) Cast
thy garment about thee (12:8f)
5) follow
me (12:8g)
4. The assumed
vision (12:9)
5. The four
passages (12:10)
1) the first ward
2) the second ward
3) the iron gate
4) the first street
III. Allies Astonished
(12:11-16) - Peter left standing at the gate
11 And when Peter was come to
himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel,
and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of
the people of the Jews. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he
came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where
many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the
door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when
she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and
told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her,
Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they,
It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had
opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he,
beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things
unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
If you were going to fabricate a myth about the
legitimacy of Christianity would you have made the believers seem so foolish
and unbelieving?
This is not about the wonderful faith and perceptive
responses of the saints! Certainly not!
This is about the victorious and undeniable power of the
risen and ascended Christ on behalf of His people. He is building His Church! He will build His Church! The gates of hell shall not prevail against
it!
Consider the various elements of this wonderful event:
1.
Peter pondering between the prison and the house
(12:11)
2.
Peter’s arrival at the house (12:12)
3.
Peter’s knock at the door of the gate (12:13)
4.
Rhoda did not open the gate (12:14)
5.
The response to Rhoda (12:15)
6.
Peter left standing before the gate (12:15)
7.
Peter still knocking at the door of the gate
(12:16)
8.
The brethren finally opening of the door of the
gate (12:16)
9.
The instructions of Peter (12:17)
This passage really reads well in a dramatized paraphrase,
or when actually acted out in a dramatic presentation!
Note: Verse 17 has
been referred to as a key verse in this section.
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to
hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the
prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And
he departed, and went into another place.
The James referred to by Peter is the brother of the
Lord, as James, the brother of John, had already been martyred (12:2). This James would continue to play a prominent
role in the Jerusalem Church.
IV. Agrippa Aggravated
(12:17-19) - Peter’s disappearance results in executions
18 Now as soon as it was day, there
was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19
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.
1. The Excitement of the Soldiers (12:18)
2. The Execution of the Soldiers (12:19a-d)
3. The Evacuation of Herod (12:19e-f)
1. The
Excitement of the Soldiers (12:18)
Now
as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was
become of Peter.
This is an almost comical understatement. It raises three questions:
1) Hadn’t this
happened before at least once?
2) Will it happen
again?
3) Does it always
happen?
1) Hadn’t
this happened before at least once? Yes.
Christ’s tomb -
Mt. 27:62-28:12
62
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief
priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that
deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command
therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his
disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is
risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go
your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure,
sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 1 In
the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold,
there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and
became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women,
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not
here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go
quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he
goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they
departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to
bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go
tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 11 Now 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. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken
counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came
by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's
ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as
they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this
day.
The Apostles -
Acts 5:17-25
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all
they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled
with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put
them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night
opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go,
stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning,
and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called
the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to
the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and
found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying,
The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing
without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests
heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are
standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
2) Will
it happen again? Yes.
Paul and Silas at
Philippi - Acts 16:19-40
19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they
caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying,
These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us
to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the
multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their
clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when
they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the
jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having
received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet
fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so
that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors
were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And 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. 28 But Paul
cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and
came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must
I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord,
and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took
them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he
and all his, straightway. 34 And when he
had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the
serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the
keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let
you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us
openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they
thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the
magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought
them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered
into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted
them, and departed.
3) Does
it always happen? No.
James was not
delivered from the sword.
Many others,
especially prophets, were not delivered in the past, most recently Stephen
(Acts 7:54-60).
Nor is there any
record of deliverances of those arrested by Saul, miraculous or otherwise.
Acts 22:4 - And I
persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both
men and women.
Acts 22:19 - And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned
and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Acts 26:10 - Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many
of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief
priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Paul himself is a
prisoner throughout the last seven chapters of Acts, and remains so until his
martrydom which occurred following the closing events recorded in Acts.
Whether of not
deliverance from persecution and martyrdom occurs is entirely contingent upon
God’s sovereign will. It is never an
issue whether He can provide such deliverance.
All things are possible with Him.
None can stay His hand. His power
is limitless. The only issue in any
given circumstance is whether such deliverance is His will or not. “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be
done.” (Lk. 22:42)
2. The
Execution of the Soldiers (12:19a-d)
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found
him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to
death.
Does this seem
fair? It wasn’t their fault, was it?
Deny the
supernatural, rule out the almighty power of God, and you inevitably create
more problems than you solve! There is a
very severe price to be paid for unbelief in God’s sovereign power!
3. The
Evacuation of Herod (12:19e-f)
And
he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Why would Herod
leave Judea after this? We are not told,
and can well imagine. However, his days
are numbered. He will get no further.
Conclusion:
A previous question was asked that if you were going to
fabricate a myth about the legitimacy of Christianity would you have made the
Christians seem so foolish and unbelieving?
This question was followed up with an assertion. This is not about the wonderful faith and
perceptive responses of the saints!
Certainly not! This is about the victorious and undeniable power of the
risen and ascended Christ on behalf of His people. He is building His Church! He will build His Church! The gates of hell shall not prevail against
it!
Not imagine this as volume two of legal document along
with the Gospel according to Luke, and presented at Paul’s trial in Rome in his
defense. Now all the powers that be at Rome
have the explanation for Herod’s final trip to Caesarea, and his death soon
thereafter. And still they do not fear
to execute the Apostles of the all-powerful ascended Christ.
Zech. 4:6 - Then
he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the
LORD of hosts.
1 Cor. 1:23-31 - 23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them
which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom
of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is
wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty; 28 And base things of
the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God
is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Cor. 2:6-8 - 6 Howbeit
we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world,
nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew:
for had they known it, they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.
Outline:
I. Apostolic
Arrests (12:1-5) - Herod murders James and plans to murder Peter
II. Angelic
Assistance (12:6-10) - Peter miraculously released from prison
III. Allies
Astonished (12:11-16) - Peter left standing at the gate
IV. Agrippa
Aggravated (12:17-19) - Peter’s disappearance results in executions
[Sermon preached 23
MAR 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old
Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And
Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
[1] For further information on Herod consult the
following sources:
E. M. Blaiklock, “Herod”, in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary,
gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,
1963, 1964, 1967), pp. 348-352.
Frederick Fyvie
Bruce, “Herod”, in The New Bible
Dictionary, eds. J. D. Douglas, F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, R. V. G. Tasker,
and D. J. Wiseman (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962), pp.
521-523.
Henry E. Dosker,
“Herod”, in The Classic Bible
Dictionary, ed. Jay P. Green, Sr. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Trust
Fund, 1988), pp. 524-528.
Henry E. Dosker, “Herod”,
in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1915 ed., ed. J. Edwin
Orr (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1999); on International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online at http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/H/herod.html
[accessed 24 MAR 2014].
Arthur Cayley Headlam, “Herod”, in A
Dictionary of the Bible, Dealing with
its Language, Literature, and Contents, Including the Biblical Theology, ed. James Hastings, 5 vols. (Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson Publishers, n.d.; 1988 reprint ed. of 1898 orig. by T&T Clark,
Edinburgh), 2:353-362; on Christian
Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hastings/dictv2/Page_353.html
[accessed 24 MAR 2014].
Harold W. Hoehner, “Herod,
Herodian Family”, in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, eds. W. A. Elwell
and B. J. Beitzel (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), pp. 964-972.
Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem
in the Time of Jesus, trans. F. H. Cave and C. H. Cave (Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1969; from Jerusalem zur
Zeit Jesu, 3rd ed., Gottingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1962),
pp. 11-12, 94, 98, 331-334, 366-367.
A. N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament: The
Sarum Lectures 1960-1961 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1963; Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2004).
Edwin M. Yamauchi,
“Archaelogy and the New Testament”, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary,
gen. ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 1, Introductory Articles (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1979), pp. 649-652.
[2] J. R. Bartlett, “The Moabites and Edomites”, in Peoples
of Old Testament Times, ed. D. J. Wiseman (Oxford: The Clarendon Press,
1973), pp. 243-244.
[3] Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus,
trans. F. H. Cave and C. H. Cave (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969; from Jerusalem zur Zeit Jesu, 3rd ed.,
Gottingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1962), pg. 331-334; citing
Flavius Josephus, Antiquitates, 14.
403, ed. B. Niese, (Berlin, 1885-1894; 1955 reprint); English trans. H. St. J.
Thackeray et al., 9 vols., in Loeb
Classical Library (London, 1926-1966).
See Antiquities of the Jews, IV:15:2, on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-14.htm#EndNote_ANT_14.28a
[accessed 24 MAR 2014].
[4] See “Ēostre” on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre
[accessed 24 MAR 2014].
[5] Other sources on this
issue: Doug Kutilek, “As I See It”, 11:10 (OCT 2008), on The King James Only Resource Center at http://www.kjvonly.org/aisi/2008/aisi_11_10_08.htm
[accessed 24 MAR 2014]; Fred Butler, “Easter, Passover and the KJV”, on Fred’s Bible Talk at http://www.fredsbibletalk.com/fb024.pdf
[accessed 24 MAR 2014]; and Fred Butler’s blog post, “The King James Only
Easter Bunny Trail” (5 APR 2012), on Hip
and Thigh at http://hipandthigh.blogspot.com/2006/04/king-james-only-easter-bunny-trail.html
[accessed 24 MAR 2014].
[6] John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992), pg.
276.
