Acts 12:1-24
November 22, 2020
Acts 12:1-24
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and
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14 Recognizing
reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
People love a good rivalry. We know this. Most everyone with an opinion will line up on one side or another when the lines are drawn.
There have been all types of heated rivalries: • Florida–Georgia
• Michigan–OhioState
• Democrats–Republicans
• iPhone–Android
• Chick-fil-A–Popeye’s • Catholics–Lutherans
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Some rivalries are very important from a worldview perspective. Others are just fan-based arguments. Then, some are life or death divisions, especially when it comes to right theology and biblical truth.
In this narrative from Acts 12, a rivalry is revealed. One that continues even now.
This is a rivalry that began prior to the Garden of Eden and brings a person of power to the forefront as a tool of God’s enemy. One who thought much higher of himself than he should, who sought to push down the growing church and band of Christians, who attempted to eliminate the brothers who were leading this church through threats, arrests, even murder.
This was (and is) no game. This is real. The early churched faced true persecution. Such that should lead many to reevaluate the “easy Christianity” that is marketed today as something you do when you have time, when you have a need, when you are afraid, and when nothing else comes up (like family events, ballgames, “me-time” or whatever else a self-indulgent society sells.)
Our church, which is intent on helping every single person abandon American Consumer Christianity for the biblical version, does everything to glorify God by surrendering fully to his lordship and joining in his work, while living as authentic, joyful believers.
This is played out before us in this narrative of Acts 12, not as a bedtime story or something that would make a great movie (though it would) but as God’s inspired, inerrant, immutable word for us today, in this world, existing in this culture, seeking to glorify God now with our love for him, love for all people, love for our community where we call home, and love for his church.
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Easy Christianity fails when...
1. THE CHURCH SUFFERS
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
“About that time” references when Paul and Barnabas were bringing an offering to the church in Jerusalem from Antioch (new believers.) The brethren were suffering so help came from other Why? Because these Christians in Antioch loved God and that love led them to love all people, especially the Christians in other cities. Sacrificial, generous giving is a hallmark of a disciple of Christ. There are no right-living stingy Christians (that’s an oxymoron.) Disciples don’t tip the church. They give generously and sacrificially.
The attacks were real. The Enemy (rival) of God, Satan, knows he cannot defeat God, so he does the next best thing – he attacks the image-bearers. This vile, evil, hateful being drives Herod (who lived from his hard heart of pride) to do the abominable.
And the church was attacked (and the people cheered.)
Ancient history? Yes. Current reality? For some now, for all Christians eventually.
Why? Because the Bible reveals this in Genesis as the thesis for the entire reality we experience.
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Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 1
2. THE LORD RESCUES
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
Our power, as Christians, is not in our ability to do good. It is not in our ability to lead people to behave better. Our power is not about us anyway. It is God alone. He is the King (not Herod) and he is Lord.
The church fought the persecution.
They fought it with the most powerful weapon in their arsenal.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
For too long and for so many of us, prayer is not considered powerful. It is often a last resort.
But be careful here. The church was obedient to pray, but this was no elevation of the people praying. This is not stating“If you just do A, then God will do B for you.” No – that makes the “pray-er”
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 3:15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 5
the seat of power, but that’s not reality. The prayer is a step of submission a place of position, a call to the only one who can rescue.
If your house is on fire and you’re trapped in the upstairs room by a window, you make (or you hope someone makes) a call to 911 and you need the OP Fire Department to bring that ladder truck over and at that point, break the window and “GET ME OUT OF HERE!”
You don’t call someone who does not have the capacity to help. You want the ones who have the skill, the tools, the power to help you.
Peter needed the ONE who could get him out safely. The church made the call. God responded because why? Not because he works for the church, but he works through his church and because of his great love for his church, he rescued Peter. He rescued Peter for his glory – from a jail.
Just like he rescued you and me, for His glory – from a jail.
Jesus said it clearly...
Luke 4:17-19
17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 2
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 4:17–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 6
3. THE WORD IS SPOKEN
21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
We’ve read and written a lot of obituaries this year, but this one beats them all.
The proud received the celebration of man. The people shouted – giving Herod praise reserved only for God.
Herod loved it!!!
And an angel – the same type of being who struck Peter earlier to awaken him and say “I’m rescuing you for God’s glory” strikes Herod and the end is much different.
And his body was eaten by worms and he sucked his last breath of air. Done.
CONCLUSION
The enemy attacks the people of God and hates His church. The person who hates church is lining up with God’s enemy.
God’s people will suffer. Easy Christianity is a lie in that whatever religion espouses that is neither easy nor Christianity.
Superstitious religious people can live in prison for a lifetime never knowing that rescue is available.
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Long before a Star Wars character ever said it on a television western, the truth has been clear – This is the way! Jesus is the Way! He is the Truth! He is the Life! He is the Rescuer...and we all need rescued, for there are no self-made men or women, no one comes to the Father except through Christ.
And we love God enough, we love you enough, we love this community enough, we love God’s church enough to TELL THE TRUTH and make the call to the only one who can rescue YOU.
The final word is the eternal Word.
No other king reigns forever. No one lord. Only one.
Will you say YES today? The rescue is available...come on!
Footnotes
