John Calvin Commentary Acts 12:3

"And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And [those] were the days of unleavened bread." — Acts 12:3 (ASV)

Seeing that it pleased the Jews. It appears more plainly from this that Herod was not moved to persecute the Church either by any zeal he had for Moses’ law or by any hatred of the gospel; rather, it was so that he might advance his own private interests. He proceeded in his cruelty to win the people’s favor. Therefore, we must understand that there are various reasons why the Church is assaulted from every side.

Often, perverse zeal drives the wicked headlong to fight for their superstitions, so that they may sacrifice an offering to their idols by shedding innocent blood. However, the greater part is motivated by personal gain alone. So, in times past, when Nero knew, after the burning of the city, that he was loathed and hated by the people, he sought by this subtle means to regain favor, or, at least, he attempted to stop their slanders and complaints by putting several thousands of the godly to death.

In the same way, so that Herod might win the favor of the people (who loved him very little), he puts Christians to death as a price by which he might redeem their goodwill. Such is our situation today. For though everyone attacks the members of Christ in droves, yet few are motivated by superstition. Instead, some sell themselves to Antichrist like profitable slaves; others tolerate and even commend the outrageous outcries of monks and the common people.

But we, in the meantime, being outcasts, must be glad to endure their mockery. Yet there is one comfort that excellently sustains us: we know that our blood is precious in the sight of Almighty God, which the world shamefully abuses. Indeed, the more shamefully and reproachfully the wicked treat us, so much the less will God’s goodness forsake us.