We begin this morning with Luke telling us about a prophecy at Antioch, then he moves on to inform us of the death of the Apostle James, then he relates a miraculous escape for Peter.
"During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 11:27-30) The ancient historians Josephus, Tacitus, and Suetonius all mention a famine that occurred during the reign of Claudius Caesar. The Christians at Antioch, upon hearing the prophecy of this famine, send aid to their brothers and sisters in Christ to help them through the difficult times ahead. The Lord sent this prophecy so the believers would be prepared when famine came.
Now the scene moves back to Jerusalem where persecution again breaks out against the church. "It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them." (Acts 12:1) This is Herod Agrippa I, a highly politically motivated man who was quite popular with the Jews. It must have seemed to his advantage to aid the enemies of the church in their persecution of the Christians.
"He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword." (Acts 12:2) James is the first of the Twelve to lose his life for the faith. Later in Acts we will see another James mentioned, but this is James the brother of Jesus, not the Apostle James.
Not a great deal is said about the ministry of the Apostle James or why he was considered such a threat that Herod had him executed, but we can safely assume this happened because of the powerful words and deeds he did in the name of Christ. If he hadn't been a mighty soldier of the gospel there would have been no reason for Herod to bother with him or for the Jewish religious leaders to approve of his death. The same can be said of believers in our own day: if we aren't doing anything for the Lord, Satan isn't concerned with us. It's only the mighty warriors of Christ who get under the devil's skin. Anytime we step out boldly in faith we are going to be met with opposition, but this need not frighten or hinder us, for He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Herod sees how much his actions have pleased his Jewish followers, so he seizes another pillar of the church. "When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover." (Acts 12:3-4) It wouldn't be the first time that apostles mysteriously disappeared from prison (see Acts 5), so Herod appoints sixteen guards to keep watch over Peter's cell. Herod doesn't want to offend the Jewish citizens by carrying out a trial and execution during Passover Week. In addition, he doesn't know how the pilgrims pouring into Jerusalem would react to such a thing considering many of them have become Christians. It's also likely he wants to wait for a dramatic moment when he can take center stage, so Passover Week isn't a good time for him to claim the spotlight.
"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." (Acts 12:5) Things look dire for Peter right now, but the church is praying for him. How many times have our situations looked dire? And how many times have our loved ones prayed for us? And how many times has God come through for us in a mighty way? God has answered several very important prayers for me during the past few days as my loved ones prayed about some situations going on in my life. I give Him glory for His grace and faithfulness. Some things didn't look very good, but believers prayed for me. Some things concerned me a great deal, but God came through.
"The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly and angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists." (Acts 12:6-7) Peter has been in jail all week. The Lord doesn't rescue him on his first night of incarceration, but we don't find Peter lying awake shaking in fear. He's sleeping just as the Lord Jesus slept on the boat during the fierce storm. (See Matthew 8, Mark 4) Peter knows that, whether he lives or dies, everything is going to be alright. Either God will set him free from prison to continue preaching the gospel, or else God will take him on into the presence of Christ. Either way Peter comes out a winner, and he is able to sleep peacefully knowing all is well with his soul.
Peter has been so deeply asleep that he has to be given even the most basic instructions. "Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your clothes and sandals.' And Peter did so. 'Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,' the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him." (Acts 12:8-10) Peter thinks he's having a very vivid dream. He follows the angel like a man walking in his sleep. The Lord opens the gate and makes a way for Peter, just as the Lord so often opens gates for us and makes a way for us where previously there was no way out.
"Then Peter came to himself and said, 'Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.'" (Acts 12:11) When Peter says "the Jewish people" he doesn't mean all the Jewish people, just those who are enemies of the church. A large number of Jewish people at this point have either turned to Christ or else are not concerned with the church one way or the other. Peter means those who are active enemies of the Christians, such as the Sanhedrin. He's talking about those who would have rejoiced to see him executed.
The Lord does a miraculous thing for Peter in today's study. The Lord has done miraculous things for you and me too. I praise His name for all the times He's turned situations around for me. Many times things looked hopeless, and they were hopeless by mankind's standards, but nothing is too hard for the God who spoke an entire universe into existence. Nothing is too difficult for the God who made salvation possible for weak and broken sinners like us.
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