Bible Strands
Acts 12:3
And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Herod acts after executing James, moving to arrest Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The words — ἀρεστὴν (arestēn) translates literally to "pleasing," paired with Ἰουδαίοις (Ioudaiois) meaning "Jews," stating explicitly that Herod's decision was calculated to win popular support.
The thread — The festival timing connects to Exodus 23:15, while the political motive echoes John 12:43 and Acts 24:27, where leaders prioritize human approval over religious or legal standards.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize how religious calendars and political calculation combine to enable persecution, demanding a clear-eyed assessment of human motives rather than spiritualized excuses.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
Cross-references
- Exodus 23:15 You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.
- John 12:43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Acts 24:27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
- Leviticus 23:6 On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
- Exodus 12:14 And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come.
- Acts 25:9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
- Exodus 13:3 So Moses told the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.
- Acts 20:6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
- Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.