Herod Persecutes the Church. Acts 12:1-25

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Herod Persecutes the Church Acts 12:1-25

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: Acts 12:1-25, Herod Persecutes the Church 1. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4. 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. 5. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6. 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. 7. Suddenly an 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. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. 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.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 11. Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating. 12. When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14. When she recognized Peter s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, Peter is at the door! 15. You re out of your mind, they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, It must be his angel. 16. But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Tell James and the brothers about this, he said, and then he left for another place. 18. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king s country for their food supply. 21. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22. They shouted, This is the voice of a god, not of a man. 23. Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24. But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 25. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (NIV) Introduction: I. Barnabas and Saul took the contributions from Antioch to Jerusalem in A.D. 44, the year in which Herod Agrippa I died. A. This chapter continues the sequential events with which chapter 11 concluded. B. Herod Agrippa I was a grandson of Herod the Great during whose reign Jesus was born. II. Barnabas and Saul arrived in Jerusalem not only during a severe famine, but also during a time of grievous persecution against the church. A. Providential intervention preserved the church. Commentary: Acts 12:1, It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. (NIV) I. A most powerful non-roman ruler set about to persecute/afflict the church. II. Obviously his purpose was to please the Jews, not to seek justice. Acts 12:2, 3, He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (NIV) I. Herod killed James the brother of John and son of Zebedee with the sword. A. James was the first apostle to die for the faith. B. This was during the Passover Feast. C. Jesus was also killed at an earlier Passover observance. II. When Herod saw that the death of James pleased the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter. Acts 12:4, 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. (NIV) I. Peter was then imprisoned and guarded by sixteen (16) soldiers. II. After the Passover celebration was completed, Herod intended to publicly execute Peter. Acts 12:5, So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (NIV) I. While Peter was in prison the church prayed earnestly for him. A. This was fervent continuous prayer! B. Evidently James execution was sudden or a similar prayer vigil would have been mounted for him.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 II. The church surely prayed for:... A. Peter s release. B. Peter s welfare while imprisoned. C. Peter s faith that it would not fail. III. What surprised the church were the suddenness and the circumstances surrounding Peter s release from prison. Acts 12:6, 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. (NiV) I. When Peter s execution was imminent, the Passover observance now being over, Peter slept in prison between two soldiers. A. In such circumstances could we sleep with perfect confidence in God s providential care? B. Peter was chained to two soldiers, one on each side. C. The cell door was undoubtedly locked. D. Other guards before the door secured the entrance to the prison cell. E. The prison was locked down. Acts 12:7, Suddenly an 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. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 I. An angel appeared in the prison, a light shone on Peter, the angel awakened Peter, his chains fell off, and Peter was told to get out of there now! A. Peter did not argue with the angel. He immediately obeyed. B. When God gives us a command, we are to obey forthwith. Acts 12:8, 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. (NIV) I. The angel told Peter to dress himself and to follow where the angel led. A. And Peter did so. No delay. No arguing. The angel commanded and Peter obeyed without question. B. This must be our response also. II. All of this happened without awakening the guards. Acts 12:9, 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. (NIV) I. Peter thought he was dreaming! II. This was too good to be true! Nonetheless, it was true. Acts 12:10, 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. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 I. This was a maximum security facility. It had a first and second guard. II. The iron gate that led into the city was massive. It required twentyfive (25) men to open and close. However, as the angel and Peter approached, the gate opened all by itself. III. When Peter was in the city and was safely away from the prison, the angel disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. IV. Had the angel not appeared Peter the next day would have gone through this gate on his way to his execution. As it was he went through the gate to freedom. Acts 12:11, Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating. (NIV) I. When Peter realized that what was happening was for real, not a vision:... A. Peter came to a clear understanding that God s angel had delivered him from prison, Herod s planned execution and all the expectation of his Jewish enemies. B. Encyclopedia Britannica,... (Herod) arrested Peter, who escaped from prison. Acts 12:12, When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 I. This was an awesome experience for Peter and he considered his angelic release from prison carefully. A. When Peter had given his release from prison careful thought he decided to go to Mary s house. B. Mary was the mother of John Mark and sister of Barnabas. C. John Mark wrote the gospel according to Mark, went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, and with Barnabas on a subsequent missionary journey. D. Peter did not flee Jerusalem, but took his place among other disciples in the city. II. When Peter arrived at Mary s house he found many gathered and praying, no doubt for him. Acts 12:13, Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. (NIV) I. Peter knocked on the door and a maid came to the door to see who was knocking. A. Knocking on the door to gain entrance is clearly an ancient custom. B. Mary certainly must have been affluent to have had a large house big enough to accommodate a large gathering of church members. C. The house had a courtyard and a gate.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 D. Rhoda was a servant girl. Mary was evidently financially comfortable. Acts 12:14, When she recognized Peter s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, Peter is at the door! I. The maid recognized Peter s voice indicating that he both knocked on the door and announced his presence by speaking. II. The maid was so overjoyed that Peter was at the outer entrance that she left him standing at the gate while she went throughout the house telling everyone that Peter was at the door. A. This servant/maid was as happy to see Peter as was the owner of the house. B. Jesus wants no class distinctions in his church! Acts 12:15, You re out of your mind, they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, It must be his angel. I. These prayerful Christians, when the maid told them that Peter was at the gate, told her she was crazy. A. Was this a courteous, kind thing to say? B. These disciples were not prepared to believe that Peter was indeed at the gate. C. When the maid insisted that Peter was in fact at the gate, they ventured another opinion that it was not really Peter, but rather his guardian angel.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 1. Matthew 18:10, See that you do not look down on one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. (NIV) 2. Hebrews 1:14, Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (NIV) Acts 12:16, But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (NIV) I. When they opened the door and saw it was indeed Peter, they were filled with amazement. A. This shows that the Christians had made no plans/no plot to design a prison break for Peter. B. Peter s release was truly miraculous. C. The Christians found it difficult to believe that Peter was indeed free! Acts 12:17, Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Tell James and the brothers about this, he said, and then he left for another place. (NIV) I. Peter gained the attention of those at Mary s house, explained to them how the Lord had delivered him from prison, sent greetings to James and the brethren, and left to go to another place. A. The Lord had effected the deliverance of Peter through his angel. B. The brethren refers to other Christians throughout the city.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 C. This James was the half-brother of Jesus who by this time had become a stalwart believer. 1. Galatians 1:19, I saw none of the other apostles only James, the Lord s brother. (NIV) 2. Acts 15:13, When they finished, James spoke up: Brothers, listen to me. (NIV) D. Peter then went to another location seeking greater security. Acts 12:18, 19, In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he crossexamined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. (NIV) I. At daybreak the soldiers who had been guarding Peter were greatly bewildered, perplexed by Peter s absence. II. The guards who had been charged with security in regard to Peter were executed on orders of King Herod. Sixteen men died upon orders of wicked Herod! III. Herod then left Jerusalem and stayed in Caesarea for a while. A. Claudius had returned from Britain to Rome and celebrations honoring his homecoming were held around the empire. B. Herod, a friend of Claudius, presided over extensive games and ceremonies commemorating the Emporer s safe return home.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 13 C. In the midst of these celebrations Herod was taken with his terminal illness. Acts 12:20-23, He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king s country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, This is the voice of a god, not of a man. Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (NIV) I. Herod was highly displeased with the residents of Tyre and Sidon. A. The citizens of Tyre and Sidon, all with one mind, came to Caesaria to butter Herod up. B. Blastus, Herod s chamberlain, served as an intermediary between Herod and the citizens of Tyre and Sidon. C. They sued for peace because their country was fed, received many benefits, from Herod s country. D. They cared little for Herod. They were concerned about their own pocketbook. II. On a set day Herod put on his finest suit, sat on his throne and delivered a speech to the citizens of Tyre and Sidon. A. It is hard to say what these people really thought of Herod s speech.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 14 B. They said/shouted that Herod spoke with the voice of a god, not the voice of a man. C. In his arrogance Herod did not give God the credit for any speaking ability he had. This was a definite, big time, major league mistake! III. Immediately an angel of God smote Herod with a terminal case of worms. A. Herod died after only a three year reign in Judaea. B. God took care of the evil tyrant! Acts 12:24, But the word of God continued to increase and spread. (NIV) I. In spite of all Herod s opposition and persecution, the word of God grew and multiplied and Christianity spread like wild fire! II. The word but indicates that God s cause will be victorious regardless of the evil that it encounters! Acts 12:25, When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (NIV) I. Barnabas and Saul delivered the contributions from the church in Antioch to relieve the distress among the Jerusalem Christians which was caused by the famine foretold by Agabus. A. Acts 11:30, This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 15 B. Having discharged that responsibility, Barnabas and Saul left Jerusalem to return to Antioch. C. John Mark, Barnabas nephew, accompanied them. D. These things took place in A.D. 44. II. The stage has now been set for the worldwide program of preaching the gospel to every soul on earth! A. As new generations appear this remains our present prime duty as Christians! Conclusion: I. The early church:... A. overcame every obstacle to the faith,... B. preached the gospel to every creature under heaven, and... C. relieved the distress of mankind everywhere. II. Come what may, we also must remain faithful to our Lord. A. Acts 4:21, After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. (NIV) B. Acts 5:41, The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 16 C. Acts 6:15, All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (NIV) D. Acts 16:25, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (NIV) E. Acts 20:24, However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the gospel of God s grace. (NIV) F. Acts 23:11, The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome. (NIV) G. Acts 27:25, So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. (NIV) H. Acts 28:31, Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 17 Questions Acts 12 1. arrested, the brother of and had him put to with the. 2. He arrested also during the of and put him in. He was guarded by soldiers. 3. An facilitated s escape from. Peter said, The sent his and me from. 4. Peter went to the house of the of where many people were. 5. knocked on the door. A named came to answer the door. She recognized, left him standing where he was and exclaimed, is at the door! 6. The people who had been praying told, You are of your. 7. For what had they been praying and why did they act as they did when Peter knocked on the door?

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 18 8. How do you explain the readiness of those in the house to believe Peter s angel was at the door while thinking it ridiculous to believe Peter was out of jail? 9. told them how the had brought him out of. Who freed Peter from jail, an angel or the Lord? 10. executed the. He then went from to and stayed there awhile. 11. had been with the people of and. They tried to resolve their differences with the king., a trusted of the king, arranged the meeting. 12. Why were the people seeking with diligence to resolve their differences with the king?

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 19 13. On the appointed day sat on his dressed in his and delivered a to the people. 14. The people complimented the speech saying, This is the of a, not of a man. How sincere were the people who said this? 15., because did not give to, an of the struck him down. He was by and. 16. The of continued to and. When and had finished their, they returned from, taking with them. 17. What had brought Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem?

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 20 18. Name three or more major things that had happened during the Passover season through the years. 19. How did Peter demonstrate his faith in God s providential care? 20. How could Peter send greetings to James in verse 17 when James was executed in verse 2?