Acts 12:1–23 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Grace is greater…
- Spreading the message…
  - The same PERSECUTION [θλῖψις] that came after the death of STEPHEN…
  - SCATTERED [διασπείρω] the believers into Phoenicia [Lebanon] – Cyprus [Island] – and Antioch
  - Yet the believers were ONLY sharing the Gospel with the JEWS…
  - But some of them in ANTIOCH began to share with HELLENISTS [Ἑλληνιστάς]
  - And the Hand of the LORD was upon them – and a LOT of people got SAVED!
- Choosing Grace…
  - The church in Jerusalem sent out Barnabas [not Peter] to check out the REVIVAL…
  - But when he saw the GRACE of God [not rules] – he REJOICED…
  - And encouraged them to CONTINUE in the LORD [not Jewish laws]
  - Then Barnabas went and got SAUL – because he was called to the GENTILES – Acts 22:21
  - And the believers were first called CHRISTIANS [like Christ] there in ANTIOCH!
- Shifting location…
  - When a prophet named AGABUS came and spoke of a worldwide FAMINE…
  - The believers in ANTIOCH raised support for their brothers in JUDEA…
  - Marking the end of Jerusalem as the epicenter of the work of the Gospel…
  - Because the BLESSING of God was upon the church that was reaching out to EVERYONE!
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!