INDUCTIVE LESSON ELEVEN HEROD PERSECUTES THE CHURCH A statement that is meant to encourage those in need, but more often sends chills down their back is, I am from the government and I m here to help you. To some this statement seems like an oxymoron. Confidence in our government seems to be at an all-time low. As a Gallup Poll released in March of 2014 1 reports, Americans rank government as the cause of three of the top five problems in our country. Complaining about our leadership has become a national pastime. Support for our president over the past 75 years has varied from an all-time low of 22% approval rating for Harry Truman during the Korean War to 90% approval rating for George W. Bush following the 9/11 attack. Paul, no stranger to persecution by authorities, writes, Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God (Romans 13:1 NKJV). It is often difficult to reconcile our need to submit to authorities (as instructed by Scripture) with leadership hostile to the gospel and biblical principles. In earlier studies the apostles told those in authority that when the law of the land conflicts with the law of the Lord, followers of Christ are obliged to follow God s Word (Acts 4:19 and Acts 5:29). Because God permits man to have freedom of choice, it is possible for leaders to make decisions outside of, or in opposition to, His revealed will (His truths contained in His Word). However, because God is in complete control of His universe (see Psalm 33:10 11), it is impossible for man to act outside of God s sovereign will. According to His sovereign will, God permits or causes all activities for our good (Romans 8:28) and to bring Him glory. Often God accomplishes His purposes behind the scenes and His actions are not discernible. However, in Acts 12, God s involvement is easily seen. Jesus inner circle of disciples included the sons of thunder brothers John and James, and their partner in the fishing business, Peter. Acts 12 begins with Herod Agrippa 1 clearly against God s revealed will, executing James, likely for purely political reasons. As Herod watched his approval ratings soar, he arrested Peter intending to execute him following the feast of unleavened bread. Peter s impending execution was clearly not within the sovereign will of God as we see God s messenger miraculously deliver him from Herod. Herod later falls under God s judgment for his actions. When those in leadership seem bent upon ignoring God s Word, what are we to do? The early church provides us with a perfect model as we witness them offering constant prayers, or petitions, for Peter s deliverance. The Greek for constant (NKJV), or fervently (NASB) is ektenos, meaning to stretch out. We get our word extended from it. It was as if the prayers of the church were an extended-mix playing on a continuous loop before the throne of God. 1
The storyline from Acts 12 (government leadership making decisions based upon political expediency in opposition to God s Word) sounds like today s news. What comfort can we take from this incident in the history of the early church? Jerry Bridges says it so very well, The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident; they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God All evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. 2 1 http://www.gallup.com/poll/167873/americans-cite-jobs-economy-gov-top-problems.aspx 2 Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2008. 38 Memory Verse The king s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1 NKJV Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. Herod s Violence Against the Church Acts 12:1 4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 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. My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: 2
Peter Freed From Prison Acts 12:5 19 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly! And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, Gird yourself and tie on your sandals ; and so he did. And he said to him, Put on your garment and follow me. 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. 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; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And 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. 12 So, 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. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, You are beside yourself! Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, It is his angel. 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 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. 18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. 3
My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: Herod s Death Acts 11:20 25 20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king s country. 21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, The voice of a god and not of a man! 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.25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. My Observations 4 Digging Deeper
Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did on Tuesday, you would tell them you went to a Bible study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two, describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse The king s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. How would these phrases instruct or encourage us today? God s Revealed Will 5
God s Sovereign Will Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation or The Message. To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse, choose a more literal translation such as New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com. Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words. Step 3: Commentaries. Commentaries should not be used in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Some good commentaries include: John MacArthur, J. Vernon McGee, The Expositors Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications). 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org 6
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OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF ACTS Jesus Ascension Pentecost --- Baptism of Spirit 3,000 saved Peter Heals Beggar 5,000 saved Peter and John Before Sanhedrin Ananias and Sapphira Peter and John Before Sanhedrin Again Seven Chosen for Ministry Stephen s Speech and Martyrdom Philip Ministry in Samaria Saul s Conversion Peter s Ministry Along Coast Christian Church in Antioch This Week Herod s Persecution of Church Paul s First Missionary Journey Jerusalem Conference Paul s Second Missionary Journey Paul s Third Missionary Journey Paul s Arrest and Jerusalem Imprisonment Paul s Trials in Caesarea Paul s Voyage to Rome Paul s Roman House Arrest 9