Acts 12:20-13:3

Introduction

Last week we learned about the Martyrdom of James brother of John

Peter’s imprisonment

We then saw God free Peter the night before Herod was going to execute him.

Exposition

Part 1: God Humbles the Proud

Verse 20: Herod Angry with Tyre and Sidon

Acts 12:20 ESV

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.

The people of Tyre and Sidon received all their food from Jerusalem

For an unknown reason Herod was mad at them and cut off their food supply

They get close to the king’s assistant who put in a good word for them.

Verse 21-22: Herod on the throne

Acts 12:21–22 ESV

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!”

It is said by Josephus, the great Jewish Historian of the first century, that the “royal robes” that Herod wore was made of pure silver.

Josephus wrote of this specific event in fact!

Josephus wrote about this event and explained that he put this on early in the morning

When the sun rose it shined on Herod it reflected the sun’s light which was blinding to all

This explains why they would have called Herod a “god”

Verse 23: God strikes this man down

Acts 12:23 ESV

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.

This response to being worshiped is the opposite of Peter’s

Cornelius tries to worship Peter and Peter rejects the worship

“He was eaten by worms”

Josephus gives an extra account of his death that matches very well with the scripture.

Herod collapsed and then died about five days later with extreme abdomen pain (it is theorized that Herod died of a ruptured appendix).

The Lord Struck him down because he did not give God glory

God humbles the proud

Proverbs 16:18–19 ESV

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Herod experienced a literal destruction here!

This man was so prideful and full of himself that he considered himself worthy to be worshipped as God.

The arrogant man saw himself as equal with the one who created the universe.

Herod given some power saw himself to be equivalent to the God who commands the stars above and weather below! What a silly thought!

We get to full of ourselves sometimes - we as fallen people get any position of authority and immediately get a big head about whatever we are doing.

We look at ourselves and we think we are important and think that we got to the place of power based on how great we are! Meanwhile we should be looking at God and thanking Him for all things we have received and see how we can bring Him glory in whatever position we are in.

Ask yourself today, “How can I bring God more glory in the positions of authority that He has placed me in?”

For example, when we are given a task or station, we have been given authority to rule over and accomplish that task or station.

How we do it and with what attitude we do it with will reflect the true character of our heart

Parents:

How you rule and raise your kids is a reflection of how you think of yourself and how you think of God.

Will you treat them in such a way where you are humbly directing them to love the Lord through loving correction and service or are you pridefully brooding over them that they are there to serve you.

Fathers how you treat your children, which affects how they view you, effects how they see and understand God.

Are you a Father who is absent, legalistic, or unkind? Will you be the dad who won’t forgive them when they mess up and hold it above their head?

This will be how they view God until they are shown otherwise. They will see God as this mean and scary authoritarian if you treat them this way.

OR

Are you the father who will be there to love them when they mess up and lead by service and self sacrifice?

This will show them the accurate love of God who shows grace to us through the sacrifice of His own son!

Positions in the church:

How you act when you have given a position in church will show what you think of God!

Is your position something that you use to wave in other people’s faces to make yourself feel special?

OR

Do you see your position as a way you can serve God through selfless sacrifice through which He will be brought glory?

We are all interim - no matter the position!

God will humble you if you try to rob Him of His glory

SEE Daniel 5

God did this because He is Holy and Jealous for His own name

God is passionate about defending his own honor

God is set apart from his creation!

When we try to bring Him down to our level or lift ourselves up to His we offend His holiness.

Part 2: God makes way for the Gospel

Verse: 24-25 - The Word increased

Acts 12:24–25 ESV

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

God removed this leader who was persecuting the church

Therefore the gospel goes forth!

No power can triumph over his word

Those who oppose God and His church will face judgement.

Verse 25: Future travelers and missionaries

Part 3: Anyone Can be Redeemed

13:1 - An interesting worshipper

Acts 13:1 ESV

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Prophets -

Conveyed divine revelation via interpreting the OT or by giving New Insight (like the ones in Acts 11:27 that predicted the famine).

A diverse group

Men from Africa and Cyrene and even someone who was connected to Herod’s household

Manaen -

Suspected foster brother of Herod (the one God just slayed)

Anyone can be redeemed

13:2-3 - Saul and Barnabas sent off

Acts 13:2–3 ESV

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

This is a tandem that we are going to see do some mighty things in the rest of Acts!

Conclusion

The Lord is Holy and jealous for His own Honor

God Humbles the Proud

Anyone can be redeemed by God’s grace