The Word This Week
Acts 12:1…
Now the first apostle is killed.
James, the brother of the apostle John, is put to death by Herod.
The reason is unspoken, but we know it is ultimately because of Satan’s opposition to the Church, in his attempt to kill it off at its beginning.
Herod, who was a Hasmonean Jew, was the grandson of Herod the Great. It was because of the Herod family being influenced by Greek culture that this sect of Jews became known of as ‘Herodians.’
When Herod put James to death, he gauged the reaction of the Jews. We’re not sure what motivated Herod to have James killed, but he saw the Jews were pleased. Seeking to win further favor, he then had Peter arrested and planned to kill Peter also following Passover.
We find Peter now in a Roman prison, chained between two guards, with two additional guards keeping watch just outside the prison door. Four squads of four Roman soldiers each had been assigned to rotate watches over Peter. This was how seriously they took Peter’s threat to Roman and Jewish rule as a leader in the Church.
You would think Peter would be greatly anxious about this, but instead we find him sleeping, seemingly unconcerned about being put to death the next morning. This is incredible, but then we remember Peter had seen first-hand ‘death’ had no real effect for a believer in Jesus Christ. His confidence should encourage us.
God had a different plan for Peter’s life. Peter would not be put to death at this time. (That would come later.)
An angel went right into the prison where Peter was and woke him up. Peter thought he was dreaming. While that may have been a pleasant dream, what was really taking place was much better.
Somehow, miraculously, the angel came in without waking anyone except Peter and removed the shackles from his wrists and conducted him out of the prison. The angel then departed.
Exhilarated, Peter fled in the night to John Mark’s mother’s home, where the believers were gathered in constant prayer for Peter’s life to be spared.
They had no idea how this may happen, and they had even less faith to believe it when their prayers were answered!
Pastor Bill
Now the first apostle is killed.
James, the brother of the apostle John, is put to death by Herod.
The reason is unspoken, but we know it is ultimately because of Satan’s opposition to the Church, in his attempt to kill it off at its beginning.
Herod, who was a Hasmonean Jew, was the grandson of Herod the Great. It was because of the Herod family being influenced by Greek culture that this sect of Jews became known of as ‘Herodians.’
When Herod put James to death, he gauged the reaction of the Jews. We’re not sure what motivated Herod to have James killed, but he saw the Jews were pleased. Seeking to win further favor, he then had Peter arrested and planned to kill Peter also following Passover.
We find Peter now in a Roman prison, chained between two guards, with two additional guards keeping watch just outside the prison door. Four squads of four Roman soldiers each had been assigned to rotate watches over Peter. This was how seriously they took Peter’s threat to Roman and Jewish rule as a leader in the Church.
You would think Peter would be greatly anxious about this, but instead we find him sleeping, seemingly unconcerned about being put to death the next morning. This is incredible, but then we remember Peter had seen first-hand ‘death’ had no real effect for a believer in Jesus Christ. His confidence should encourage us.
God had a different plan for Peter’s life. Peter would not be put to death at this time. (That would come later.)
An angel went right into the prison where Peter was and woke him up. Peter thought he was dreaming. While that may have been a pleasant dream, what was really taking place was much better.
Somehow, miraculously, the angel came in without waking anyone except Peter and removed the shackles from his wrists and conducted him out of the prison. The angel then departed.
Exhilarated, Peter fled in the night to John Mark’s mother’s home, where the believers were gathered in constant prayer for Peter’s life to be spared.
They had no idea how this may happen, and they had even less faith to believe it when their prayers were answered!
Pastor Bill