Answered Prayer

• 1^st – Death of James… vs. 1-4
  • 1^st – Herod Agrippa… vs. 1
    • Evil plans…
      • Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church!
      • About the same time as the work of God is moving to ANTIOCH…
      • The PERSECUTION against the church [ἐκκλησία] in Jerusalem increased…
      • Herod the KING – reached out his hand [metaphorical] – to do EVIL [κακόω]!
    • The Great…
      • The name Herod can be confusing – because there are FOUR of them in the Bible…
      • FIRST – Herod the Great was King of Judea [under Rome]
      • A brilliant builder – he undertook massive construction projects in Judea…
      • Most importantly – he remodeled the Temple in Jerusalem [Second Temple]
      • He was the one the wise men visited at the birth of Jesus – Matthew 2:3
      • And went on to try and KILL Jesus – by murdering all of the boys under the age of TWO!
    • Antipas…
      • SECOND – Herod Antipas – the SON of Herod the great… 
      • He was also known as Herod the tetrarch [τετράρχης]
      • Because he ruled [ἄρχω] over a QUARTER [τέσσαρες] of the kingdom of his father…
      • He married Herodias [his niece] who had divorced his brother Philip…
      • John the Baptist apposed their adulterous marriage – Matthew 14:3
      • So Herod had John arrested – and subsequently beheaded [at the request of his wife]
      • Jesus would stand silent before him at His crucifixion – Luke 23:8
    • Agrippa…
      • THIRD – Herod Agrippa – the GRANDSON of Herod the great…
      • He was the King of Palestine for THREE years…
      • This is the Herod that we are looking at in our passage this morning!
    • Agrippa II…
      • FOURTH – Herod Agrippa II – GREAT grandson of Herod the great [son of Herod Agrippa]
      • Oversaw the FOURTH trial of the Apostle Paul…
      • Like those who came before him – he REJECTED the Gospel…
      • And had Paul sent off to stand trial before Caesar in Rome!
      • Acts 26:28 – “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly.” [NLT]
      • FOUR generations of leaders – ALL of them wicked men…
      • THREE of them infamous for killing innocent people [babies – John – James]
      • NONE of them were willing to listen to the GOSPEL…
      • Because they were more interested in THIS life – than ETERNAL life!
  • 2^nd – Martyr… vs. 2
    • First Apostle…
      • Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword!
      • Herod put James the brother of John [sons of thunder] to death [sword]
      • This is the same JAMES who was always with Jesus [transfiguration – gethsemane]
      • This marks the FIRST of the APOSTLES to be put to death!
      • History teaches us that ALL the disciples were eventually MARTYRED for Christ…
      • Doubting Thomas – was speared to death sharing Jesus in India…
      • Peter was crucified upside down – he did not feel worthy to die like Jesus…
      • John was boiled in oil [but survived] and was sent to the island of Patmos – Revelation 1:9
    • The messenger…
      • MARTYRS are not new – people have always tried to SILENCE those who speak for God…
      • The Prophet Isaiah was sawn in two – long ways – Hebrews 11:37
      • The Prophet Jeremiah was thrown into a well and left to die – Jeremiah 38:6
      • And it is estimated the SEVENTY million have died for their faith since the book of Acts…
      • Potentially HALF of that total number – coming just in the past hundred years!
      • Luke 12:4 – “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after have no more that they can do… Fear Him who – after He has killed – has power to cast into hell.”
      • The point is simple – people do NOT want the message…
      • Even more as we see the end approaching – so they try and SILENCE the messenger…
      • But if the worst people can do is kill us – and then we go to heaven…
      • Keeping in mind that they CANNOT touch us – until our time is DONE [John in oil]
      • It stands to reason – there is NO down side to standing up for the truth…
      • And a really GOOD reason to preach Jesus – He is the ONLY way to heaven!
  • 3^rd – Death row… vs. 3-4
    • Peter was next… vs. 3
      • And because he saw that it pleased the Jews he proceeded further to seize Peter also!
      • When Herod saw KILLING James made [present] the JEWS happy…
      • He ARRESTED Peter – with the intent to KILL him as well…
      • It was purely a POLITICAL move to try and PLEASE his constituents!
    • Passover… vs. 3-4
      • Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him.
      • He put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him.
      • Intending to bring him before the people after Passover!
      • The ONLY reason the execution did not happen immediately…
      • It was the days of UNLEAVENED bread [seven day feast] – Leviticus 23:6
      • And the JEWS would NOT come out for an execution during the FEAST…
      • Therefore – Herod put SIXTEEN [four sets of four] guards on Peter [very secure]
      • With the plan to bring him out to the people AFTER the PASSOVER [πάσχα]!
      • Herod was a NEW King – ruling over a STUBBORN nation…
      • He was looking for a way to keep the Jews HAPPY – but still subject to Rome…
      • The easy solution was to find a common ENEMY they could both hate [Christians]
      • NOT that Herod hated Christians – he ONLY persecuting the church to PLEASE the Jews…
      • But because he wanted to PLEASE men – he was OPPOSED to Christ!
      • Ultimately the only reason someone rejects Jesus…
      • Is because there is something else that they LOVE more than God…
      • Likewise we also have to CHOSE – what is do we value the MOST…
      • To be a disciple – means to LOVE Jesus more than anything in this world!
      • Galatians 1:10 – “If I still pleased men I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

• 2^nd – Answered prayer … vs. 5-18
  • 1^st – Constant prayer… vs. 5
    • Peter was therefore kept in prison.
    • But constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church!
    • While Peter was [imperfect] locked in PRISON [waiting to DIE]
    • The CHURCH was [imperfect] PRAYING [present] to God to save him…
    • This was a DESPERATE prayer – in the DARKEST of hours…
    • James was DEAD – and apart from a miracle – Peter was NEXT!
    • The MORE hopeless things appear to be in our lives – all the MORE we should pray…
    • Because even when we run out of options – God never does!
    • Luke 18:27 – “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
  • 2^nd – Sound asleep… vs. 6-7
    • Perfect peace… vs. 6
      • When Herod was about to bring him out – that night Peter was sleeping.
      • Bound with two chains between two soldiers. The guards before the door keeping the prison!
      • In what should have been his LAST night on earth…
      • Peter was NOT worried – instead he was SLEEPING…
      • Even though he was chained between TWO guards – one on his right – the other on his left…
      • With TWO more guards stationed at the door of his cell…
      • He was NOT just sleeping – he was SOUND asleep – so that it was HARD to wake him up!
    • Hard to wake up… vs. 7
      • Behold an angel of the Lord stood by him – and a light shone in the prison.
      • He struck Peter on the side and raised him up!
      • LOOK [imperative] – and ANGEL of the Lord [κύριος] stood inside of his PRISON…
      • And LIGHT [φῶς] filled [λάμπω] the whole room [but did NOT wake Peter]
      • So the ANGEL tried to wake him up by HITTING [πατάσσω] him [still nothing]
      • This was no light tap – the same word is used of Peter cutting off an ear – Matthew 26:51
      • At this point the only thing left to do – was for the ANGEL to just pick him up!
      • If I were to be executed the NEXT day – I would NOT have been sleeping…
      • But Peter was able to get a great nights rest – because he was NOT worried!
      • Our lives will ALWAYS have TRIALS – the challenges will NEVER stop…
      • But if we waste our time WORRYING about those problems – we will have no PEACE…
      • Because WORRYING about our problems – does NOT change anything…
      • So instead of losing sleep by WORRYING – lets run to Jesus and find rest!
      • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything – instead pray about everything.”
  • 3^rd – Three commands… vs. 7-8
    • Stand up… vs. 7-8
      • [The angel said]: Arise quickly! And his chains fell off his hands! 
      • The ANGEL commanded [imperative] Peter to GET up quickly…
      • As he stood up – the chains fell from his hands [set free]
      • Presumably – the two GUARDS he was changed to were either SLEEP…
      • Or TERRIFIED at the presence of an ANGEL in the room with them!
      • It can seem hard to stand up for Jesus in a world that hates Him…
      • And the world wants to tie us down – make us afraid – keep us quiet…
      • But when we choose to stand and live our lives for Jesus – we are set FREE!
    • Get dressed… vs. 8
      • Then the angel said to him: Gird yourself and tie on your sandals. And so he did! 
      • The ANGEL had come to get Peter out of PRISON…
      • But there was a PROBLEM – he needed to get DRESSED [still in his pajamas]
      • He had to put on his belt [pants] – shoes – and coat FIRST!
      • We had an earthquake last Friday night – the whole house shook…
      • Wisdom says that when things are shaking – we should run outside…
      • But there was a problem – we were wearing our pajamas!
      • If we want to be used by the Lord – we need to get DRESSED…
      • We need to put on our SHOES and get walking….
      • Blessed are the feet who bring the message of salvation – Romans 10:15
    • Follow me… vs. 8
      • And he said to him: Put on your garment and follow me!
      • The ANGEL then commanded [imperative] Peter to FOLLOW him out of the PRISON…
      • Because staying there was NOT a good idea [death in the morning]!
      • Satan would love to keep us LOCKED up – ineffective for the LORD…
      • He does so by keeping our focus on the PROBLEMS – rather than the SOLUTION…
      • All we need to do is FOLLOW the Lord – and we will be set FREE!
  • 4^th – Prison break… vs. 9-11
    • Not a vision… vs. 9
      • So he went out and followed him and did not know that what was done by the angel was real.
      • But thought he was seeing a vision!
      • As Peter followed the ANGEL out of the PRISON…
      • He had NO idea that this was REAL [ἀληθής]
      • I am sure it seemed SURREAL – as he passed by the prison GUARDS…
      • Therefore – he kept [imperfect] assuming it was all a DREAM [ὅραμα]
      • I can see Peter waving his hands in front of their faces…
      • Just to see if he could get a response – but NOTHING – it was like he was invisible!
    • Past the guards… vs. 10
      • When they were past the first and the second guard posts.
      • They came to the iron gate that leads to the city which opened to them of its own accord.
      • They went out and went down one street and immediately the angel departed from him!
      • The ANGEL led Peter past the FIRST and SECOND guard posts…
      • And when they came to the MAIN [iron] gate of the PRISON…
      • It opened up [passive] automatically [αὐτόματος] for them…
      • Even inanimate objects were working for PETER to help him escape…
      • Only once they were safely away from the PRISON – did the ANGEL depart!
    • Delivered… vs. 11
      • When Peter had come to himself he said:
      • Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has delivered me.
      • From the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people!
      • At that moment Peter realized it was REAL [ἀληθής]
      • God had sent His ANGEL to save him from DEATH…
      • To deliver him out of the hand of Herod – and the desire of the Jewish people…
      • It seems amazing to read how God freed Peter…
      • But we have a tendency to think – God does NOT do miracles like that today!
      • Brother Yun [heavenly man] – Chinese pastor arrested for teaching people about Jesus…
      • Was put in a maximum security prison [Zhengzhou] – legs BROKEN so he could NOT escape…
      • The Lord spoke to him [get up] – he argued his legs were BROKEN – but God healed him…
      • God spoke again [leave] – he argued he was in prison – just then the door opened…
      • He walked out of the prison – right by guards who appeared NOT to see him…
      • He went to a nearby church – they opened the door and told him…
      • Your LATE – they were all gathered waiting for him to teach a Bible Study!
      • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday – today – and forever.”
      • God does NOT change – and His is still doing miracles today…
      • He will ALWAYS be there to rescue us from our troubles – if we follow Him!
  • 5^th – Left outside… vs. 12-16
    • Prayer meeting… vs. 12
      • When he had considered this he came to the house of Mary.
      • The mother of John whose surname was Mark – where many were gathered together praying!
      • Peter knew where to go – to the house where the church was [present] PRAYING…
      • It was the house of MARY – the mother of MARK [also called John]
      • This same MARK is the COUSIN of Barnabas – Colossians 4:10
      • Who traveled with PAUL on his first missionary journey – Acts 12:25
      • He is also the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark!
    • Left waiting… vs. 13-14
      • And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
      • When she recognized Peters voice because of her gladness she did not open the gate.
      • But ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate!
      • As Peter KNOCKED on the door of the house [no doubt locked out of fear]
      • A young girl named RHODA [rose] came to hear [ὑπακούω] to who it was…
      • We are NOT sure of her age – but the suggestion is that she was YOUNG [παιδίσκη]
      • She immediately knew [ἐπιγινώσκω] his voice [he was a leader in the church]
      • But she was so EXCITED – that rather than OPEN the door…
      • She ran in to tell the whole gathering Peter was there!
    • Not believing… vs. 15-16
      • But they said to her: You are beside yourself. Yet she kept insisting that it was so. 
      • So they said: It is his angel. Now Peter continued knocking.
      • And when they opened the door and saw him they were astonished!
      • But the CHURCH who was PRAYING for Peter to be released…
      • Told RHODA she was CRAZY [μαίνομαι] – overly excited by her desire to see him…
      • And when she INSISTED [imperfect] – they decided it must be his ANGEL [ghost]
      • Because that was easier to believe – than that God could set Peter free…
      • This whole time Peter was still knocking [imperfect] at the door [a wanted criminal]
      • When they finally opened up the door and SAW [ὁράω] him – they were astonished…
      • They were amazed to see God answered their prayers!
      • God used the PRAYERS of the church – but not in the way we might expect…
      • Peter was NOT released because they were praying…
      • Peter was sent to their prayer meeting to show them nothing is impossible for God!
      • It does NOT take perfect faith – for God to answer a PRAYER…
      • Even if we DOUBT – question if something is possible – God is still working…
      • Because God is NOT depended on us – we are DEPENDENT on Him…
      • We do NOT pray so that God can move – we PRAY so God can get us moving!
      • II Timothy 2:13– “If we are faithless He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”
  • 6^th – Set free… vs. 17-18
    • But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent.
    • He declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and he said:
    • Go tell these things to James and to the brethren. And he departed and went to another place!
    • Peter quickly waved his hand for them to be QUIET [he was a wanted man]
    • And then told them how the Lord [κύριος] had brought him out [God got the credit]
    • And he commanded [imperative] them to go and tell JAMES and the other brothers!
    • This is the FIRST mention of JAMES the brother of Jesus in the NT…
    • He would go on to become a major LEADER of the church in Jerusalem – Acts 15:13
    • Peter then departed to ANOTHER place – lay low for a while…
    • It would seem he went to Antioch [with Paul] beyond the reach of Herod – Galatians 2:11
    • Although he came back to Jerusalem after Herod died – Acts 15:7

• 3^rd – Death of Herod… vs. 18-23
  • 1^st – Politics… vs. 18-20
    • Death sentence…
      • As soon as it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers about what became of Peter.
      • But when Herod had searched for him and not found him.
      • He examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death!
      • The NEXT day there was a HUGE commotion in the PRISON…
      • No one KNEW what had happened to PETER [on the day of his execution]
      • Herod intensely questioned [ἐπιζητέω] the soldiers – but when PETER could NOT be found…
      • So he EXECUTED the soldiers instead of PETER [someone had to die]!
      • It was standard for a guard to face the penalty of their prisoner if they escaped…
      • Reinforcing the FATE that awaited Peter if the Lord had NOT saved him!
    • Not happy… vs. 19-20
      • [Herod] went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
      • Now [he] had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon.
      • But they came to him with one accord having made Blastus [his] personal aide their friend.
      • They asked for peace because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country!
      • Since his attempt to win over the JEWS had not gone to PLAN [Peter had escaped]
      • Herod went down to Caesarea [by the sea] – to mend his EGO…
      • The had been at WAR [θυμομαχέω] with the people of Tyre and Sidon [Lebanon]
      • But they persuaded his personal BUTLER – Blastus – to arrange a meeting…
      • Not that they LIKED Herod – but they depended on his Kingdom for FOOD…
      • Because they lacked farmable land – and needed grain from Judea and the Galilee!
      • Politicians have NOT changed much over the years – their motives are selfish…
      • They want to please people – because they want to stay in POWER [get re-elected]
      • We no longer have public executions – we have MASSKARA festivals [with famous actors]
      • And people still PRAISE the politicians – NOT because they LIKE them…
      • But because they are looking to get SOMETHING from them…
      • This is why we do NOT put our faith in the game of POLITICS…
      • Instead we choice to put our TRUST in the LORD – who truly cares for His people!
  • 2^nd – Glory to God… vs. 21-23
    • Silver ball… vs. 21
      • On a set day Herod – arrayed in royal apparel – sat on his throne and gave an oration to them!
      • On a certain day – Herod came and met with the people…
      • Tradition says that he met them in the THEATRE in CAESAREA [15 thousand seats]
      • With the setting sun of the Mediterranean as a backdrop…
      • He came out dressed in robe made of SILVER strands [royal]
      • Being that he was a rather FAT man – his clothing made him look a bit like a DISCO ball…
      • As he tried to SELL [ἀγορά] the PEOPLE [δῆμος] that he was someone SPECIAL!
    • Voice of a god… vs. 22
      • The people kept shouting: The voice of a god and not of a man!
      • The whole production seemed to WORK well…
      • The PEOPLE [δῆμος] kept [imperfect] shouting out [all 15 thousand of them]
      • It is the voice of a GOD [Θεοῦ φωνὴ] – NOT the voice of a man…
      • NOT that they believe Herod was a god – they just wanted to his FOOD!
      • Be careful in putting confidence in the flattery of others…
      • People will say whatever they need to – to get what they want…
      • Someone who truly cares about us – will NOT always compliment us…
      • Instead they will tell us the TRUTH – even if it HURTS!
      • Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
    • Worms… vs. 23
      • Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him.
      • Because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died!
      • IMMEDIATELY – and Angel of the Lord hit [πατάσσω] him [same word as Peter]
      • To try and get him to LOOK up – and realize he was JUST a man…
      • Because he had NOT given the GLORY [δόξα] to God…
      • But in the end – he was EATEN up by WORMS – and gave up the GHOST…
      • GHOST [ἐκψύχω] – 3x in NT – only other place used is Ananias and Saphira – Acts 5:5-10
      • The Historian Josephus tell us he was eaten by parasitic worms from the inside out…
      • He suffered for FIVE days in agony before the worms finally killed him!
      • Psalm 105:15 – “Do not touch My anointed ones.”
      • Herod thought he could SILENCE the MESSENGERS of the Lord [James]
      • And instead make the people listen to his WORDS [voice of a god]
      • But what he FORGET is that God does NOT share His glory – Isaiah 42:8
      • And there are consequences for touching His ANOINTED ones…
      • Because in the end – there is NO question – God always wins!