Acts 12:3

“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, etc.] That is, as Beza’s ancient copy adds, “his stretching out his hands upon the faithful”; this pleased the Jews, a bloodthirsty generation of men, who had killed the prophets, and the Lord Jesus, and who were now greedy after the death of the apostles: it may easily be seen from what principle and spirit Herod acted; it was not out of regard to the Jewish religion, rites, and ceremonies, but to ingratiate himself into the affections of the people: he proceeded further to take Peter also; a principal apostle, and who was well known, and against whom the Jews had doubtless a particular antipathy, and would have been glad to have been rid of him; this…”

“because he saw it pleased the Jews--Popularity was the ruling passion of this Herod, not naturally so cruel as some of the family [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 19.7.3]. to take Peter also--whose loss, at this stage of the Church, would have been, so far as we can see, irreparable. Then were the days of unleavened bread--seven in number, during which, after killing and eating the Passover, no leaven was allowed in Jewish houses (Exo 12:15, Exo 12:19).”

“And because he saw that it pleased the Jews - This was the principle on which he acted. It was not from a sense of right; it was not to do justice, and to protect the innocent; it was not to discharge the appropriate duties of a magistrate and a king, but it was to promote his own popularity. It is probable that Agrippa would have acted in this way in any circumstances. He was ambitious, vain, and fawning; he sought, as his great principle, popularity, and he was willing to sacrifice, like many others, truth and justice to obtain this end. But there was also a particular reason for this in his case. He held his appointment under the Roman emperor. This foreign rule was always unpopular among…”

“Then were the days of unleavened bread - At which the Jews came together from all parts. Acts 12:4”

“he saw: Act 24:27, Act 25:9; Joh 12:43; Gal 1:10; Th1 2:4 he proceeded: Act 2:14, Act 4:13; Psa 76:10; Joh 19:11, Joh 21:18 Then: Exo 12:14-20, Exo 13:3-7, Exo 23:15; Lev 23:6-14; Mat 26:17; Co1 5:7, Co1 5:8 Acts 12:4”