Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 12:4
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.
4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison ] To keep him a prisoner till the termination of the feast.
and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep [guard] him ] A quaternion was a set of four men, which number was at one time occupied in the work of the guard, two soldiers being chained to the prisoner, and two keeping guard outside. These latter are called ( Act 12:10) “the first and second ward.” There were four such sets appointed to have charge of Peter, one company for each of the four watches by day and by night.
intending after Easter (the Passover)] The rendering “Easter” is an attempt to give by an English word the notion of the whole feast. That this meaning and not the single day of the Paschal feast is intended by the Greek seems clear from the elaborate preparation made, as for a longer imprisonment than was the rule among the Jews. Peter was arrested at the commencement of the Passover feast (14th of Nisan), and the king’s intention was to proceed to sentence and punish him when the feast was at an end on the 21st of Nisan.
to bring him forth to the people ] that they might take notice of the zeal for Judaism which would be shewn by the sentence passed upon Peter. The verb is employed by St Luke about the trial of Jesus (Luk 22:66), “As soon as it was day they led him into their council.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And when he had apprehended him – When he had taken or arrested him.
He put him in prison – During the solemnities of this religious festival, it would have been deemed improper to have engaged in the trial of a supposed criminal. The minds of the people were expected to be devoted solely to the services of religion; and hence, Herod chose to retain 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; those who were on guard occupying three hours, and being then relieved. Of the four who were on guard, two were with Peter in the prison Act 12:6, and two kept watch before the door of the prison. The utmost precaution was taken that he should not escape; and Herod thus gave the most ample assurance to the Jews of his intention to secure Peter, and to 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 pascha. 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 when this book was written. The translation is not only unhappy, as it does not convey at all the meaning of the original, but because it may contribute to foster an opinion that such a festival was observed in the time 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 honor of whom a festival was celebrated by our pagan ancestors in the month of April (Webster). Since 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 used frequently 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 hence, it has very improperly crept into our King James Version.
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 his being put suddenly to death, as was James, he was reserved for future trial; and thus an opportunity was given for the prayers of the church, and for his consequent release.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Four quaternions of soldiers] That is, sixteen, or four companies of four men each, who had the care of the prison, each company taking in turn one of the four watches of the night.
Intending after Easter to bring him forth] , After the passover. Perhaps there never was a more unhappy, not to say absurd, translation than that in our text. But, before I come to explain the word, it is necessary to observe that our term called Easter is not exactly the same with the Jewish passover. This festival is always held on the fourteenth day of the first vernal full moon; but the Easter of the Christians, never till the next Sabbath after said full moon; and, to avoid all conformity with the Jews in this matter, if the fourteenth day of the first vernal full moon happen on a Sabbath, then the festival of Easter is deferred till the Sabbath following. The first vernal moon is that whose fourteenth day is either on the day of the vernal equinox, or the next fourteenth day after it. The vernal equinox, according to a decree of the council of Nice, is fixed to the 21st day of March; and therefore the first vernal moon is that whose fourteenth day falls upon the 21st of March, or the first fourteenth day after. Hence it appears that the next Sabbath after the fourteenth day of the vernal moon, which is called the Paschal term, is always Easter day. And, therefore, the earliest Paschal term being the 21st of March, the 22d of March is the earliest Easter possible; and the 18th of April being the latest Paschal term, the seventh day after, that is the 25th of April, is the latest Easter possible.
The term Easter, inserted here by our translators, they borrowed from the ancient Anglo-Saxon service-books, or from the version of the Gospels, which always translates the of the Greek by this term; e.g. Mt 26:2: Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover. [Anglo-Saxon] Wite ye that aefter twam dagum beoth Eastro. Mt 16:19: And they made ready the passover. [Anglo-Saxon] And hig gegearwodon hym Easter thenunga (i.e. the paschal supper.) Prefixed to Mt 28:1, are these words: [Anglo-Saxon] This part to be read on Easter even. And, before Mt 28:8, these words: [Anglo-Saxon] Mr 14:12: And the first day of unleavened bread when they killed the passover. [Anglo-Saxon] And tham forman daegeazimorum, tha hi Eastron offrodon. Other examples occur in this version. Wiclif used the word paske, i.e. passover; but Tindal, Coverdale, Becke, and Cardmarden, following the old Saxon mode of translation, insert Easter: the Geneva Bible very properly renders it the passover. The Saxon [Anglo-Saxon] are different modes of spelling the name of the goddess Easter, whose festival was celebrated by our pagan forefathers on the month of April; hence that month, in the Saxon calendar, is called [Anglo-Saxon] Easter month. Every view we can take of this subject shows the gross impropriety of retaining a name every way exceptionable, and palpably absurd.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Four quaternions of soldiers: there were sixteen soldiers appointed to keep Peter; the Romans using four soldiers at a time to keep sentry, and the Jews dividing their nights into four watches, there were enough to relieve the other, and to set a new watch as often as was required for every night; of which four at a time, two were with the prisoner, and perhaps, for the greater security, bound with the same chain, and two did always stand at the door or gate; and this they might the rather do, out of great caution, having heard what miracles Peter did, and that he had been delivered by an angel out of prison, Act 5:19.
After Easter; that day in which the paschal lamb was ate, on which the Jews would put none to death, that they might not eclipse the joy of that day.
Bring him forth to the people; to do with him what they would, leaving him to their mercy, or rather cruelty.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. delivered him to four quaternionsof soldiersthat is, to four parties of four each,corresponding to the four Roman watches; two watching in prison andtwo at the gates, and each party being on duty for the space of onewatch.
intending afterEasterrather, “after the Passover”; that is, afterthe whole festival was over. (The word in our King James Version isan ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have beenemployed here).
to bring him forth to thepeoplefor execution; for during “the days of unleavenedbread,” or the currency of any religious festival, the Jews hada prejudice against trying or putting anyone to death.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When he had apprehended him,…. When his officers he sent to take him had brought him:
he put him in prison; in the common prison, very likely where he had been once before, Ac 5:18
and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; each quaternion consisted of four soldiers, so that they were in all sixteen; and so the Syriac version renders it, “and delivered him to sixteen soldiers”: how the Ethiopic version should make “seventeen” of them is pretty strange: these perhaps might take their turns to watch him by four at a time, two to whom he was chained, and two others to keep the doors; or all the sixteen together, being posted in one place or another for greater security: and it may be, that the reason of all this caution, and strong guard, might be, because it was remembered that he, and the rest of the apostles, when committed to the same prison some years ago, were delivered out of it:
intending after Easter, or the passover,
to bring him forth to the people; to insult and abuse him, and to put him to what death they should desire.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When he had taken him (). See on 3:7 for same form.
He put him in prison ( ). Second aorist middle indicative of , common verb. This is the third imprisonment of Peter (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18).
To four quaternions of soldiers ( ). Four soldiers in each quaternion ( from , four), two on the inside with the prisoner (chained to him) and two on the outside, in shifts of six hours each, sixteen soldiers in all, the usual Roman custom. Probably Agrippa had heard of Peter’s previous escape (5:19) and so took no chances for connivance of the jailors.
After the passover ( ). The passover feast of eight days. “The stricter Jews regarded it as a profanation to put a person to death during a religious festival” (Hackett). So Agrippa is more scrupulous than the Sanhedrin was about Jesus.
To bring him forth ( ). Second aorist active infinitive of , to lead up, old verb, used literally here. Peter was in the inner prison or lower ward and so would be led up to the judgment seat where Herod Agrippa would sit (cf. Joh 19:13).
To the people ( ). Ethical dative, in the presence of and for the pleasure of the Jewish people.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Quaternions. A quaternion was a body of four soldiers; so that there were sixteen guards, four for each of the four night – watches.
The passover. The whole seven days of the feast.
Bring him forth [ ] . Lit., lead him up; i e., to the elevated place where the tribunal stood, to pronounce sentence of death before the people. See Joh 19:13.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And when he had apprehended him,” (hon kai pisas) “Whom also seizing,” detaining by arrest, for imprisonment, completed his orderly arrest, as they later did Paul in Damascus, 2Co 11:32; Act 9:24-25.
2) “He put him in prison,” (etheto eis phulaken) “He placed him (caused him to be placed) in prison, or in confinement, as a law breaker, a breaker of Jewish law, though it had been finished, fulfilled, taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, Mat 5:17-18; Luk 16:16; Luk 24:44-45; Joh 19:30; Col 2:14-17.
3) “And delivered him to four quarternions of soldiers to keep,” (paradous tessarsin tetradiois stratioton phulassein auton) “Giving him over to four quarternions of soldiers to guard,” around the clock; each quarternion had four, making 16 soldiers who guarded him as if he were an high order capital crime law breaker.
4) “Intending after Easter,” (boulomenos meta de pascha) “Holding in mind or intending after the Passover;- Here only in the scripture is it translated Easter.
5) “To bring him forth to the people,” (anagagein auton to lao) “To bring him up (parade him up) to the people,” to lead him up from prison before the people by a chain, as a criminal, an object of derision, for a mock, farcical trial and execution, that the Jews might be also gratified at his death, for they had murder in their hearts, Joh 8:44.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
4. Adding four quaternions of soldiers. Luke doth, in this place, declare by circumstances that Peter was, as it were, shut up in his grave, so that it might seem that he was quite past hope; for as they divided the day and night into four parts by three hours, so Herod divided the watches, that four soldiers might always keep watch, and that one quaternion might succeed another every third hour. He showeth the cause why he was not forthwith put to death, because it had been an heinous offense to put him to death in the Easter holidays; therefore, Herod doth not delay the time as doubtful what to do, but doth only wait for opportunity; yea, he maketh choice of a time, when as his gift may be more plausible, because there came a great multitude together from all parts unto the holy day. (753)
(753) “ Ad diem festum,” to the feast, or festival.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers.Agrippa apparently followed the lessons of Roman practice which he had learnt by his own experience. The four quaternions relieved each other at set times, and the prisoner was chained to two of the soldiers of each company, while the others were stationed as sentinels at the door of the dungeon. (Comp. St. Pauls chains in Act. 28:20; Eph. 6:20.)
Intending after Easter.Better, after the Passover, as elsewhere. In this solitary instance the translators have introduced, with a singular infelicity, the term which was definitely appropriate only to the Christian festival which took the place of the Passover.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Quaternions A body of four soldiers. Four such bodies succeeded each other during the four watches of the night. Two soldiers would be stationed in the prison and two at the gates.
Easter The Passover.
Bring him forth For trial.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘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.
So Peter was taken and imprisoned, probably in the Castle Antonia, and he was placed under a secure guard of four squads of four soldiers each, rotating in three-hour shifts day and night, with two of them chained to Peter at any one time. Escape or rescue was therefore an impossibility – to man. His intention was to bring him out once the seven days were over.
The excessive precautions taken indicate Agrippa’s determination to destroy Peter, and reveal his view of how dangerous the Jerusalem church was. He had no doubt been warned how Peter, together with his companions, had previously managed to escape and he wanted to ensure that it did not happen this time. (Incidentally this strict treatment helps to confirm that there must have been a previous escape, otherwise why the precautions?) He wanted to ensure that he kept the people of the Messiah in chains.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 12:4. To four quaternions of soldiers That is, to sixteen, consisting of four in each party, who were to watch him by turns, four at a time; two of them being chained to him, and two of them watching before the door of the prison: one end of one chain was fastened to St. Peter’s right hand, and the other end to the left arm of one of the soldiers; the other chain was in like manner fastened to St. Peter’s left arm, and to the soldier’s right arm: see Act 12:6. Very likely the Jews remembered how all the apostles had escaped when they had formerly put them in prison; and perhaps they suspected the fidelity of the guards. It was therefore most probably at their request, that such a number of soldiers were appointed to guard the apostle. But the confining him was not all; for Herod intended after the Paschal Lamb was eaten, and the seven days festival quite finished, to bring him out to the people, and gratify them by putting him to death, and that publicly. During the festival the Jews used to spend their time in such mirth and festivity, that prisoners were commonly released, rather than executed. But notwithstanding all their zeal about rituals, they could submit to be concerned in the vilest immoralities. See chap. Act 28:16. Instead of after Easter, the Greek would more properly be rendered after the passover.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
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.
The days of unleavened bread mean the feast of the Passover; and as a great number of Jews were of course come up at Jerusalem on this occasion, Herod thought this a fine opportunity to gratify that people with the spectacle of the murder of Peter; and therefore he intended, as soon as their religious ceremonies were over, the Apostle should be brought forth. And thus this time-serving king was filling up the measure of his iniquity, Gen 15:16 .
I pray the Reader to be very particular in observing, what is said of the unceasing prayer of the Church, for the preservation of Peter, The words in the margin of the Bible are: instant and earnest prayer was made without ceasing. An holy importunity with the Lord, such as would take no denial. Such as Jacob himself the father of all the praying seed of Israel used, when it is said, that he wept and made supplication unto him, Hos 12:4 . Weeping, and then praying; and then at it again: wrestling again, with tears and prayers; and as one that was determined never to give over, until he obtained as at length he did obtain the object he desired. See the whole history, Gen 32:24 etc. And it is worthy remark, the light in which the Lord regards such holy pleaders. He calls them Recorders; for so the word Mazkir means: Isa 62:6-7 . I beg the Reader to turn to the passage. He will find in the margin of his Bible, that to the Lord’s watchmen, whom he hath commanded never to hold their peace, day nor night, the Lord saith; Ye that are the Lord’s remembrancers, keep not silence; and give him no silence, until he hath established, and made Jerusalem a praise in the earth. And then follows the Lord’s Oath. – I entreat the Reader to ponder this sweet Scripture well. And I entreat him to seek instruction from the Lord the Spirit, to a right apprehension of it. And when he hath thus done, I would ask him the question, (I do not decide,) whether there is not in the whole God the Father’s oath and promise: Heb 6:17-18 . God the Son’s finished salvation and intercession: (for both are implied in all real prayer): 1Jn 2:1-2 , and God the Spirit’s grace and supplication, as a spirit of both, poured out to lead the praying seed of Jacob to prayer, and help them in it; all included in this sweet portion, Zec 12:10 ; Rom 8:26 .
We that live in the present cold, prayerless generation, (and as it is to be feared, too often satisfy ourselves with heartless forms,) by reason of such prison frames as we pray in, can hardly figure to ourselves an idea of the holy importunity of those holy men of old. But were the Lord to bring on the Church, as in those days, an awful persecution like this of Herod, the faithful in Christ, would soon learn, in what soul-feeling prayer consisted.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 4. To bring him forth to the people ] But God had otherwise determined. Sciat Cels. Vestra, saith Luther in a letter to the Elector of Saxony, et nihil dubitet longe aliter in caelo quam Norimbergae de hoc negotio conclusum esse, i.e. God in heaven hath decreed otherwise of this business than the emperor hath at Nuremberg; and the will of the Lord must be done, when all is done. “Yet have I set my King,” &c., Psa 2:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4. ] In military arrangements, Herod seems to have retained the Roman habits, according to which the night was divided into four watches, and each committed to four soldiers ( , Polyb. vi. 33.7), to two of whom the prisoner was chained, the other two keeping watch before the doors of the prison, forming the first and second guards of Act 12:10 . It is plain that this number being mentioned is no sign that the custody was only for one night .
] (see above) after the days of the feast , i.e. after the 21st of Nisan. Herod, who (Act 12:1 , note) observed rigorously the Jewish customs, would not execute a prisoner during the feast: ‘Non judicant die festo’ (Moed Katon Act 12:2 , Meyer).
. . ] See ref.: to bring him out and sentence him in sight of the people .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 12:4 . , Act 3:7 , really Doric form of ( cf. Luk 6:38 , nowhere else in N.T.), used in this sense also in LXX, and elsewhere in N.T., cf. Son 2:15 , Sir 23:21 (not A). Modern Greek = seize, apprehend. : “when he had taken him, indeed,” so Rendall, as if a delay had taken place, before the arrest was actually made. .: the night was divided by the Romans a practice here imitated by Herod into four watches, and each watch of three hours was kept by four soldiers, quaternio , two probably guarding the prisoner within the cell, chained to him, and two outside. ., cf. Philo, in Flaccum , 13; Polyb., xv., 33, 7, and see for other instances, Wetstein. , “after the Passover,” R.V., i.e. , after the whole festival was over: Herod either did not wish, or affected not to wish, to profane the Feast: “non judicant die festo” ( Moed Katon ., v., 2). : only here in this sense (in Luk 22:66 , , W. H.), probably means to lead the prisoner up, i.e. , before the judgment tribunal (Joh 19:13 ), to sentence him openly to death before the people.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
apprehended = arrested. Greek. piazo. See note on Joh 11:57.
in = into. Greek. eis.
prison = ward. Greek. pkulake.
quaternions. Greek. tetradion, a body of four. Only here. There were four soldiers to guard Peter for each of the four watches. The prisoner was chained to two and the other two kept watch. See Act 12:6.
intending. Greek. boulomai. App-102.
after. Greek. meta. App-104.
Easter. Greek. to pascha, the Passover. Easter is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T.
bring . . . forth = lead up, i.e. to the judgment seat. Compare Luk 22:66.
people. Greek. laos.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4. ] In military arrangements, Herod seems to have retained the Roman habits, according to which the night was divided into four watches, and each committed to four soldiers ( , Polyb. vi. 33.7), to two of whom the prisoner was chained, the other two keeping watch before the doors of the prison, forming the first and second guards of Act 12:10. It is plain that this number being mentioned is no sign that the custody was only for one night.
] (see above) after the days of the feast, i.e. after the 21st of Nisan. Herod, who (Act 12:1, note) observed rigorously the Jewish customs, would not execute a prisoner during the feast: Non judicant die festo (Moed Katon Act 12:2, Meyer).
. . ] See ref.: to bring him out and sentence him in sight of the people.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 12:4. , four quaternions) So that they might keep watch by turns, and in several places: Act 12:10.-, to bring him forth) Such proceedings used to be carried on in elevated places. Therefore is employed, and this by a Metonymy of the antecedent for the consequent, viz. the punishment.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Easter
the passover.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
he put: Act 4:3, Act 5:18, Act 8:3, Mat 24:9, Luk 21:12, Luk 22:33, Joh 13:36-38, Joh 21:18
delivered: Act 16:23, Act 16:24, Mat 27:64-66
intending: Act 4:28, Est 3:6, Est 3:7, Est 3:13, Pro 19:21, Pro 27:1, Lam 3:37, Mat 26:5
Easter: Rather, the Passover, [Strong’s G3588], [Strong’s G3957].
Reciprocal: Lev 23:6 – General Num 28:16 – General Jos 2:3 – Bring 1Ki 19:2 – to morrow Psa 69:33 – his prisoners Jer 37:15 – put Dan 2:18 – they would Dan 3:20 – to bind Dan 6:17 – a stone Act 12:10 – the first Act 12:19 – he examined 2Co 6:5 – imprisonments Heb 11:36 – bonds
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Act 12:4. A quaternion consisted of four soldiers, and four of them would make 16 soldiers charged with the guarding of the prison, changing their shifts every three hours. Two of the ones on duty were with the prisoner and two watched the gate. Easter is from PASCHA. Thayer defines it, “The paschal festival, the feast of Passover.” It has no connection with Easter as that term is used today.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 12:4. And delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers. That is, to four bands of soldiers, each band consisting of four. These were to relieve each other in guarding the prisoner. The Roman practice of dividing the night into four watches of three hours each was generally adopted by the Jews of this period.
Intending after Easter. (Literally, after the Passover.) King Herod wished to be considered a strict observer of the law. The more rigid Jews, we learn from the Talmud, deemed it unlawful to defile their solemn feasts with executions (see St. Joh 18:28, where this dread of defilement affected the murderers of Jesus).
To bring him forth to the people. That is, for trial and execution.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Peter being imprisoned, observe, What an excess of care and caution Herod takes for securing his prisoner: Sixteen soldiers are set to guard him; four at a time, and to take their turns at the four watches of the night, to relieve one another.
Thence learn, That the enemies of the church make the surest work they can, when at any time God permits his servants to fall into any of their hands. Thus they dealt with the Head, when they had apprehended him; The watch-word was Hold him fast, Mat 26:48. When they crucified him, they nailed him fast to his cross: when they buried him, they made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch: And thus they deal with some soldiers chained to him, and others always standing at the door to observe him. But all this care, concern, and caution to secure the prisoner, did illustrate the glory of the miracle in his wonderful deliverance.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
See notes one verse 3
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 4
Four quaternions; making sixteen. A quaternion was a company of four.–Easter; the Passover. The word is now used to denote the anniversary of the resurrection, which nearly coincides, of course, with the Jewish Passover.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
12:4 {3} 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.
(3) The tyrants and wicked make a gallows for themselves even then when they do most according to their own will and fantasy.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Four squads of soldiers-four soldiers made up each squad-guarded Peter in six-hour shifts so he would not escape as he had done previously (Act 5:19-24). Evidently two of the soldiers on each shift chained themselves to Peter and the other two guarded his cell door (Act 12:6; Act 12:10). "Passover" was the popular term for the continuous eight-day combined Passover and Unleavened Bread festival.