Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 12:4

"And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people." — Acts 12:4 (ASV)

And when he had apprehended him. When he had taken or arrested him.

He put him in prison. During the solemn observances of this religious festival, it would have been considered improper to engage in the trial of a supposed criminal. The minds of the people were expected to be devoted solely to the sacred rites of religion; and for this reason, Herod chose to keep him in custody until the Passover had ended.

To four quaternions of soldiers. A quaternion was a company of four; consequently, the whole number employed here was sixteen. The Romans divided the night into four watches, so that the guards could be relieved, with those on guard serving for three hours before being relieved.

Of the four who were on guard, two were with Peter in the prison (Acts 12:6), and two kept watch before the door of the prison. The utmost precaution was therefore taken to ensure he would not escape, and Herod thereby gave the Jews the most ample assurance of his intention to secure Peter and bring him to trial.

Intending after Easter. There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The original is simply after the Passover, meta to pasca.

The word Easter now denotes the festival observed by many Christian churches in honor of the resurrection of the Saviour. But the original has no reference to that, nor is there the slightest evidence that any such festival was observed at the time this book was written.

This translation is not only unfortunate, as it does not convey the meaning of the original at all, but also because it may contribute to fostering an opinion that such a festival was observed in the times of the apostles.

The word Easter is of Saxon origin and is supposed to be derived from Eostre, the goddess of love, or the Venus of the North, in whose honor a festival was celebrated by our pagan ancestors in the month of April. (Webster.)

As this festival coincided with the Passover of the Jews, and with the feast observed by Christians in honor of the resurrection of Christ, the name came to be used to denote the latter. In the old Anglo-Saxon service-books, the term Easter is frequently used to translate the word Passover. In the translation by Wycliffe, the word paske (that is, Passover) is used. But Tyndale and Coverdale used the word Easter, and therefore it has very improperly crept into our translation. (Clark.)

To bring him forth to the people. That is, evidently, to put him publicly to death to gratify them. The providence of God, in regard to Peter, is thus remarkable. Instead of being put suddenly to death, as James was, he was reserved for future trial; and thus an abundant opportunity was given for the prayers of the church, and for his consequent release.