Acts 12:19

Herod Agrippa I Caesarea Judea

¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

¹⁸ At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

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.

²⁰ Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.

²¹ On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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.
KJV: 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 Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode.
WEB: When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
ASV: And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and tarried there.
DARBY: And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed [there].
BLB: And Herod, having sought after him and not having found [him], having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be led away. And having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed [there].

ÅB: Herodes lot lete etter ham, men fant ham ikke; han tok da vaktmennene i forhør og befalte at de skulle føres bort; og han dro ned fra Judea til Cesarea og oppholdt seg der.
OTB: Da Herodes hadde lett etter ham og ikke fant ham, forhørte han vaktene og beordret deres henrettelse. Så dro han ned fra Judea til Cæsarea og ble der.
B1930: Herodes lot lete efter ham, men fant ham ikke; han tok da vaktmennene i forhør og bød at de skulde føres bort; og han drog ned fra Judea til Cesarea og opholdt sig der.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 16:27
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
Read in context
John 12:10–11
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
Read in context
Psalms 37:32–33
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
Read in context
Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
Read in context
1 Kings 20:43
Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.
Read in context
1 Samuel 23:14
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.
Read in context
Daniel 2:11–13
What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”
Read in context
Matthew 2:13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Read in context