Acts 12:4

“When he had apprehended him, etc.] 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, (<440518>Acts 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…”

“delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers--that is, to four parties of four each, corresponding to the four Roman watches; two watching in prison and two at the gates, and each party being on duty for the space of one watch. intending after Easter--rather, "after the Passover"; that is, after the whole festival was over. (The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have been employed here). to bring him forth to the people--for execution; for during "the days of unleavened bread," or the currency of any religious festival, the Jews had a prejudice against trying or putting anyone to death.”

“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…”

“Four quaternions - Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and night. Acts 12:5”

“12:4 Herod had Peter guarded by four squads of soldiers, making it humanly impossible for the apostle to escape (cp. 12:6). However, God was in charge, and nothing is too hard for him (cp. 4:27-31; Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17, 27; Matt 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27).”

“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, το \[Strong's G3588\], πασχα \[Strong's G3957\]. Acts 12:5”