The Prevailing of God’s Plan
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning Church!
Today we will be continuing on in our study of the Book of Acts and we will be picking up in Chapter 12 this morning.
Now, last week if you will remember, we looked at Chapter 11 and we seen The Priority of God’s Plan and how that the gospel was going out to the Gentiles further and further and we also got our first glimpse of the title we now carry today....Christians.
The Bible says they were first called Christians in Antioch.
Now, today we are going to pick right back up here in Acts Chapter 12 and when I got to meditating on this chapter this week what I found was Chapter 12 also has to do with God’s plan except this time instead of speaking about the priority of it, it speaks to the power of it.
So the title I gave this weeks lesson is this…The Prevailing of God’s Plan.
And what we’re going to see here today is that God is almighty, that Heaven reigns, and that everything that happens here on this earth is under His control and will be accomplished according to His plan and not man’s.
So, with no further ado, if you have your Bible’s turned to Acts 12 Verse 1, please say, Amen.
The Persecution of Christians — (Vs. 1-4)
The Persecution of Christians — (Vs. 1-4)
The first thing I want us to look at this morning is the first four Verses here and I want us to see…The Persecution of Christians that had begun.
Verse 1 here tells us that “about that time Herod the king stretched for his hands to vex certain of the church.”
The word “vex” used here speaks of injuring, harming, hurting or mistreating someone.
And the Bible says the one behind the persecuting was Herod the king.
Now in order to understand what’s happening here before us and to help you grasp this a little bit better, I believe a good history lesson is in order.
You see, this Herod that the Bible speaks of here was Agrippa I.
Chuck Swindoll — For many years after the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, the Herodian dynasty continued to cast a great shadow over Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and regions beyond. His descendants divided up his realm: Archelaus took Judea and Samaria, Antipas took Galilee and Perea, and Philip took over several northeast provinces and, later, some of Syria.
Within a few years, Archelaus self-destructed. He was responsible for the murder of many Jewish subjects (Matt. 2:20–23), which provoked a massive conspiracy to get rid of him. Delegations representing Jews and Samaritans—usually bitter enemies—as well as his brothers, Antipas and Philip, all converged on Rome to have him removed. Augustus heeded the chorus of voices against Archelaus, deposed him, banished him to Gaul in present-day France, and placed his land under Roman control. Thereafter, Roman procurators and governors ruled Judea.
Antipas proved more successful than Archelaus, although his dalliances eventually came back to destroy him. He drove his wife, the daughter of Nabataean King Aretas IV, into exile so he could marry his sister-in-law/niece, Herodias. He survived the consequent political and religious unrest by befriending Tiberius and by placating wealthy Hellenistic Jews. Eventually, however, his political calculations failed. Aretas attacked and seized some of his land—including the city of Damascus (2 Cor. 11:32–33)—and the death of Tiberius proved fatal to Antipas’s reign. Here’s how:
After the death of Herod the Great, Philip married his niece, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, whose sensual dance before Antipas led to the execution of John the Baptizer (Matt. 14:6–11; Mark 6:21–28). Philip lived quietly and maintained close ties with Rome, and upon his death in AD 34, his land reverted to Syrian control. But only for a short time. When Tiberius died, Caligula became emperor and gave Philip’s land to Agrippa I, the brother of Herodias. He also gave Agrippa the coveted title of king.
When Antipas and Herodias went to Rome to seek the same honor, Agrippa sent accusations against Antipas, resulting in Antipas’s banishment to Gaul. Accordingly, Agrippa gained the land once ruled by Antipas.
To gain Judea, he needed to convince the powers of Rome that their interests were better served with him in control instead of one of their procurators. Gentile procurators, after all, had been a constant source of irritation to the Jews, and Jewish irritation always unnerved Rome.
Local rulers had two primary, all-important responsibilities: keep the people from revolting and keep the money flowing to Rome. Agrippa could easily position himself as the best candidate. Who better than a Jew, a descendant of Herod the Great, and a loyal friend of the emperor? If he could convince the Jews that he would be a better option than the procurators, he might just succeed. And what better way to curry favor with the Jews than to side with them against an insignificant, upstart, sectarian group following a dead Messiah?
His calculations proved successful, and timing worked in his favor. When Caligula died in AD 41, Agrippa was in Rome. He gave crucial advice to his childhood friend Claudius and interceded on his behalf with the Senate, ultimately helping him succeed Caligula as emperor.
As a reward, Claudius gave Agrippa Judea and Samaria, helping him eclipse Herod the Great in terms of power and land. He quickly moved his capital to Jerusalem and began to solidify his relations with Jews at all levels, from the populist Pharisees to the aristocratic Sadducees.
John Phillips gives us a little deeper understanding of how Agrippa comes to power and in my mind what causes him to become the ruler he was.
John Phillips — This was Herod Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great and the Hasmoneon princess Mariamne. His father, Aristobulus, was murdered by Herod the Great, as was later his grandmother Mariamne. Upon the death of his father, Agrippa was sent to Rome by his mother to get him out of his murderous grandfather’s way.
At Rome, Agrippa grew up on intimate terms with members of the imperial families, particularly with Gaius, grand-nephew of Tiberius. When Gaius became the Emperor Caligula in A.D. 37 he bestowed on his friend Agrippa tetrarchies in southern Syria, gave him the title of king, and later added to his domain Galilee and Perea, formerly ruled by Agrippa’s uncle Antipas. Caligula was murdered in A.D. 41, and Claudius became emperor; he added Judaea to Agrippa’s realm.
Herod Agrippa I zealously courted his Jewish subjects. He espoused the law and coveted popularity with the people. He possessed considerable personal charm, and he was more acceptable to the Jews than most of the masters imposed upon them by Rome because of his Hasmoneon descent. Like the other Herods, however, he was an Idumean and a descendant of Esau.
Luke calls him Herod the king. He was the only Herod to have royalty bestowed upon him and to govern all of Palestine since the death of his grandfather, Herod the Great.
Herod saw a cheap way to curry favor with his Jewish subjects by persecuting the church. To him, Christian believers, the very aristocracy of heaven, were defenseless nobodies and therefore safe targets for attack. Herod reckoned without God.
Now, you may be wondering why I took you through that grueling history lesson and for those of you who do not appreciate history, you’re probably thinking, “well that’s five minutes of my life I’ll never get back!”
But the reason for the history lesson is to help set the tone for what we’re about to read next.
Here was a young man, who was born into a family of power and not just power but a family of very evil people.
His own grandfather killed his father and his grandmother simply due to being power hungry and a mad man!
And this young fellow grew up in this. He grew up in the political realm. He understood it was the family business and undoubtedly at a young age set his sights on one day being the greatest of them all!
And by the looks of it, it would seem as though he had reached the apex of his goal!
He rose the ranks through relationships and finding favor and ultimately surpassed his grandfather Herod the Great, who killed his own father Aristobulus, to become the only Herod to be called king!
And now that he is over the territory of Judea as well, what better way to curry favor with your constituents than to assist them with their problems and the biggest problem the Orthodox Jews had at this point and time was this newly formed sect called Christians!
So, how can Herod Agrippa assist?
Look at Verse 2.
What better way to help than to start persecuting these so called believers! If the Jews, which undoubtedly were still the ranking authority in Jerusalem, didn’t like them and wanted them gone why shouldn’t Agrippa lend a helping hand seeing as he had all power and authority in the land…or so he thought!
So, he takes James, the brother of John, and he has him murdered!
James would be the first Apostle martyred and his brother John would be the last!
And the Bible says that because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he says, “oh well if they got a rise out of that, let’s see what they will do when I get rid of one the highest leaders of their clan!”
So, he takes Peter but because it was the days of unleavened bread, he places Peter in prison until after Easter at which point he would also make him a spectacle for all to see!
Keep in mind what time it is.
John Phillips — The feast of unleavened bread lasted a week, from Nisan 14 (Passover Eve) to the 21st. The whole period began with the keeping of the Passover. Herod’s intention was to keep Peter imprisoned during that period and then bring him out for execution.
The feast of unleavened bread was closely associated with the annual feast of Passover. The Jews were required to scour their houses to make sure no corrupting leaven remained. Thus, while the Jews were ridding their houses of leaven in accordance with their ritual law, their hearts were fermenting with the hidden leaven of malice and wickedness.
So, I would like to think most of you will remember this from our study in Matthew of Easter week in Jerusalem.
During this time period, people from all over would flock to Jerusalem sometimes upwards of a million people!
And if I’m a leader and trying to find favor with the leading aristocracy of the area what better time to get a large crowd to see what you are willing to do in order to get them on your side!
He meant to use the occasion as a publicity stunt for his own campaign but little did Herod Agrippa know that God had other plans!
The Bible says because it was the days of unleavened bread though, he puts Peter in prison and don’t miss the significance of this.
Agrippa has Peter delivered to (4) quarternions of soldiers. That is (4) squads of (4).
So, there are 16 guards altogether watching Peter at all times!
John Phillips — Peter was kept in the maximum security ward, probably in the fortress of Antonia on the northwest corner of the Temple area. As we learn from the story, he was guarded by sixteen soldiers, two chains, keepers, an iron gate, and two wards.
So, persecution had begun again and Peter’s fate now rested in the hands of Herod Agrippa…or did it?
Look on down with me at what happens next.
The Persistent Prayer of the Church — (Vs. 5)
The Persistent Prayer of the Church — (Vs. 5)
Who was praying for Peter?
And how were they praying?
Do you what the Bible says about persistent prayer?
29 The Lord is far from the wicked: But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
James 5:16b
16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Listen this morning Church, there is power in persistent prayer!
Especially when a body of believers come together, unified in their pursuit of God’s will to be done!
The Church had come together here and they were praying for Peter’s release!
They were praying for the protecting hand of God to deliver Peter from the snares of Satan!
Now, I do want to say this before moving on…the same prayers and the same persistence was probably done for James as well but the will of God for James and for Peter were not the same.
Just because we come together and pray and pray persistently, it doesn’t always mean we will get what we want.
But what we can rest assured of is the fact that if we pray for God’s will to be done, we will never be praying amiss.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
James was not spared but just maybe God’s will is that Peter should be so the Church prayed and they prayed persistently!
Now, look on down at what happens next!
The Phenomenon of Peter’s Release — (Vs. 6-11)
The Phenomenon of Peter’s Release — (Vs. 6-11)
The night before his arraignment, knowing that tomorrow could very well be his last, you would think that Peter would be upset, scared, praying for God to intervene but look what our dear friend Peter is doing…the Bible says Peter was sleeping!
Here Peter is, a guard on either side, chained to each hand and instead of fretting, Peter is slobbering on their shoulder and snoring in their ears! Can you imagine that?
Peter had no worries. He knew in whom his salvation lie and if today should be the day that the Lord called him home, so be it.
Until then, let’s get some rest!
Peter’s mentality was the same as Paul would later say, “for me to live is Christ but to die is gain!”
There was probably a little jealousy there in Peter that James beat him to the pearly gates to be honest.
He feared not what man could do to him!
And then look what happens!
7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.
8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening.
10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
Talk about a miracle!
This takes things to a whole new level!
Even Peter was shocked at what had just taken place! Look what he says next there in Verse 11.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
John Phillips — The word used by Luke to describe the “expectation” of the Jews is prosdokia. It means “eager looking” and is found in only one other place in the New Testament. Luke uses it to describe the watchfulness of people in the coming apocalyptic age as they see, with growing apprehension, end-time events approaching. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after [prosdokia] those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26).
The same kind of anticipation marked the Jews who were eagerly looking for Peter’s execution. They devoured the news and watched things with the closest attention, just as people will when end-time events become commonplace.
Peter learned something this night that I pray we can all take with us to encourage us and give us some peace when unsettling times come our way.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
God wasn’t done with Peter yet!
And what I had a very wise lady tell me one time that has stuck with me is this…she said, “son, you’re not going to leave this world one second sooner than God wants you to leave it and you’re not going to stay one second longer than God wants you to stay!”
The full power of God was on display here in Peter’s phenomenal escape and God’s plan was once again taking precedence over man’s plan!
Look on down at what happens next in Verses 12-17.
The Puzzling of Peter’s Visit — (Vs. 12-17)
The Puzzling of Peter’s Visit — (Vs. 12-17)
Vs. 12
John Phillips — One of the principal gathering centers in Jerusalem at that time was the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, who was later to become famous as the author of the gospel that bears his name. Mary was the sister of Barnabas. As Barnabas had put his property at the disposal of the church, so his sister put her house.
Vs. 13-17
Have you ever seen anyone so astonished that their prayers actually worked?
They were all in shock!
Listen, James said in...
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
How many times do we offer prayers to God not believing that He will answer them before we even make the request?
Listen Church, when you go to God in prayer go knowing that you are making your request, your supplication to the greatest power in all of the universe!
If He can sling trillions of universes into being with one wave of His mighty hand and know each and every one by name don’t ever think you have a problem that He cannot handle!
There is nothing too big for my God!
My God is an awesome God He reigns in heaven above with wisdom power and love my God is an awesome God!
We’ve seen the Persecution of the Church that had begun. We’ve see the Persistent Prayer made by the Church. We’ve seen the Phenomenal Release of Peter. And we’ve seen the Puzzling Visit of Peter.
Now, let’s finish the Chapter out by looking at the Power of God on Display!
The Power of God on Display — (Vs. 18-23)
The Power of God on Display — (Vs. 18-23)
Vs. 19
I like what John Phillips said about this verse here.
John Phillips — As for Herod, disgusted at the whole business, he turned his back on Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jews, and went to the city of Caesarea “and there abode.” The word for “abode” is diatribō, literally “to rub away.” Herod thus tried to erase from his mind the memory of his humiliation by spending time in the more pagan and Roman environment of the seaside resort.
Vs. 20-23
John Phillips — Was this “angel of the Lord” the angel who released Peter? Perhaps it was. In God’s administration of the universe He is pleased to use agents. There are watchers in the unseen world, angelic beings who carry out the orders of God’s throne. Just as Satan has his angelic princes, unseen powers, rulers of this world’s darkness, and wicked spirits in high places, so God has His own angelic administrators who rush to do His bidding.
Evidently Herod was being watched, as we are all being watched. He could not see the watcher, but this powerful being, sent from heaven to put a check on this man’s presumption and pride, could see him. He was allowed to place his order with his tailors for that dazzling suit of silver. He was allowed to admire himself in the mirror and to congratulate himself on what a dashing, royal figure he cut. He was allowed to parade up and down his bedroom before his valet, calling for an adjustment here, a minor alteration there. He was allowed to wear that robe to the theater. He was allowed to sit upon his throne in conscious pride. He was allowed to stand so that the rays of God’s sun might flash upon the silver threads, throwing out an aura of their own. He was allowed to open his mouth to speak and hear the multitude cry, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”
Then the watcher smote. Herod had gone too far. He had exhausted the patience of God. He had crossed the hidden boundary between God’s mercy and His wrath. Well may we all beware.
The Plan of God Prevails — (Vs. 24)
The Plan of God Prevails — (Vs. 24)
Many people down throughout the ages have tried to stop the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ but the Word of God cannot be stopped!
Penned by men’s hands but inspired by God’s heart the Word of God was initiated in the Heavenly realms and shall prevail until the very end!
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Man may try as he might to thwart the plan of God but God’s plan will always prevail!
Close
Close
As we come to a close this morning, there are a couple things I hope you take from God’s Word this morning.
Never let pride get in your way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
There is power in the persistent praying of the Church.
When you pray, pray in confidence that if it’s according to God’s will, it will come to pass.
God’s Plan will always Prevail — What is that plan? — That the gospel of His dear Son would continue to spread!