Acts 12:4 KJV Apologetic:
The word "Easter" in Acts 12:4 in the KJV is a four-part explanation
(Which involves proper study or resources to investigate such truths to see).
I. The English word "passover" was invented by Tyndale, and we see it is a synonym for “easter.” It was used interchangeably in Textus Receptus Bibles that predate the KJB. This is also mentioned in an older dictionary (Note: Are you going to argue with an old dictionary of the past?). In short, the word “easter” was the word that existed before “Passover” was invented by Tyndale. I would recommend the book, "Don't Passover Easter" by Bryan C. Ross (
Source).
II. When approaching Acts 12:4, one needs to properly understand the Passover and the days of unleavened bread. Passover is not only just the 14th (a day), but it can refer to a seven day celebration (i.e., Passover Week). This seven day celebration of the Passover also includes the eating of unleavened bread, and thus can also be called “the days of unleavened bread.”(Which is stated in context in verse 3). I would recommend reading the article titled "Passover is a Feast, and a Holy Convocation" by IronSharpeningIron.com (
Source).
III. Looking at the other occurrences of the English word "passover" in the New Testament after the resurrection, we see that these are in reference to the famous Passover day (the 14th) (See:
1 Corinthians 5:7) (
Hebrews 11:28). Whereas in Acts 12:4, it is a reference of the Passover week (a.k.a. days of unleavened bread - Acts 12:3). This seven day Passover week would include the Crucifixion and the Resurrection Day of Jesus Christ.
IV. Looking at the origin of the English word "Easter" at Etymology online, we can see such definitions as: "east, toward the sunrise" or as: ""to shine," especially of the dawn." (
Source). In Jesus' resurrection, He rised from the grave and out of the tomb made in part by the earth. Jesus rose and came out of the Earth. Involving dawn, or the sun rising each day, it appears like the sun is rising out of the Earth from our perspective and it also ends the darkness. Jesus is the Light of the World who ends the darkness (
John 8:12). Jesus is the sun of righteousness referred to in
Malachi 4:2. As you know, this is a parallel. Jesus is like the rising of the dawn or like when the sun rises each day (out of the East). So Easter (a picture of the dawn and Christ's resurrection) takes place in the seven day Passover WEEK and not the 14th (the first famous Passover Day). Christians celebrated Easter for many generations and did so in celebration of His resurrection. How perfect is the King James Bible in it's word usage here.
Praise be unto our risen LORD and for His Word.
Side Note:
Please keep in mind that words can be changed to have different meanings over the passage of time. The word “gay” used to mean happy, and it does not carry the same meaning today like it once did in the past. As much as you may try, if you say that word today, you most likely will not be able to help yourself in thinking of how that word is used today and not like it was once used in the past. So you have been conditioned over and over and over and over and over again to think a certain way when you hear certain words. The same is true with Easter. Many in society today have been conditioned to think a certain way. One has heard over and over and over again that the word “Easter” refers to the Easter bunny, and chocolate eggs in a basket, and Easter egg hunts, and or also the stories on websites about some pagan fertility goddess or something. But truth is truth regardless of our brainwashing from society or what some internet article says. One thing I know in life is that God’s Word (the Bible) is always right. To say the Bible has errors in it is to make yourself the authority above what God actually said. By saying the Bible has errors in it means you get to sit in the seat of God and determine what He said and did not say. But I will trust God’s Word even when it goes against the culture or what society does or despite any conditioning it tries to push upon me, making me believe certain words in a modernized way. However, God’s Word is always right and true, and I would rather take the chance of being a fool for God, than to correct His Word (the KJV). For by what standard are you going to be judged when the Lord Jesus judges us? Naturally it is going to be by His Word (John 12:48). But if His Word is full of errors, then how could we trust it whereby we could be held accountable? Think, my friends.