Herod
Acts of the the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What is the cost of following Jesus? Right now, there’s a lot of talk of cost, isn’t there? The price of things. There are some that want certain things to be free. In my short time on earth, I have come to know this. That which costs nothing means nothing. Now that doesn’t mean something that costs a lot means a lot.
In Luke 14, Jesus is talking to the crowds about what it takes to be His disciple. That you cannot do something, whether it’s building a tower or a king going to war, without first counting the cost. He says in verse 33 Luke 14:33
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
The cost of being Jesus’ disciple is everything. Our lives. And those that followed Jesus knew that. But why did that have to be the cost? Because the divinity and dominion of Jesus, the truth of His death and resurrection, is a direct affront to to Satan, his followers, and anyone that wants power and authority and control of the narrative over God and His plan and His objective truth. The disciples spent countless hours with Jesus. The watched His miracles. They watched Him die. They saw Him buried. They saw Him alive 3 days later. They saw Him ascend to Heaven. And they were murdered, killed in incredibly painful, brutal ways, gladly proclaiming the truth of that. Nobody dies for a lie they know to be a lie.
We are continuing on in the Book of Acts, Luke’s biography of the works of the Holy Spirit and the apostles, keeping in mind that in his gospel he recorded those words of Jesus from chapter 14. We are looking at chapter 12 of Acts. Acts 12:1
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
Before getting too far into the passage, let’s get a little background on Herod. Because this whole chapter is an interesting account of Herod. This name can be confusing, because there’s not just one Herod.
Herod was part of the “Herodian Line.” Established by Herod the great. In the Greek and roman world, it was common for sons to be named after their fathers, especially in royal or noble families, to signify continuity and legitimacy of rule. So the first Herod was appointed by Rome as the King of Judea.
Herod the Great:
Reign: 37-4 BC, King of Judea under Roman rule.
Biblical Role:
Matthew 2: Ordered the Massacre of the Innocents to kill baby Jesus, fearing a new "King of the Jews".
Luke 1: His reign sets the historical context for the birth of John the Baptist.
Herod Archelaus:
Reign: 4 BC - 6 AD, ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.
Biblical Role:
Matthew 2:22: His harsh rule led Joseph to settle in Galilee rather than Judea after returning from Egypt.
Herod Antipas:
Reign: 4 BC - 39 AD, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.
Biblical Role:
Luke 3, 9, 13, 23; Mark 6; Matthew 14: Ordered the beheading of John the Baptist; played a part in Jesus' trial, sending Him back to Pilate.
Herod Agrippa I:
Reign: 37-44 AD, King over Judea, Samaria, and parts of Galilee and Perea.
Biblical Role:
Acts 12: Initiated the persecution of early Christians, executing James, son of Zebedee, and imprisoning Peter.
Herod Agrippa II:
Reign: 50-92 AD, ruled regions including parts of Galilee.
Biblical Role:
Acts 25-26: Heard Paul's defense, showing interest in Christianity without converting.
So this Herod is Herod Agrippa I. Now the people in power wanted to maintain a good relationship with the Jewish people for the most part. So taking out these new Christians was a smart move, because the Jewish religious leaders, the pharisees and Sadducee, wanted it done. That was the whole deal with Jesus being crucified.
So that is the context of who Herod was and his relationship with the Jewish people. We have Herod Agrippa wanting to appease, in a sense, the Jewish leadership. And we have these new Jesus followers preaching that not only was Jesus the messiah, but that He is the son of God and was raised from the dead. So with that background in mind, there are 3 events that take place in Acts 12. The first was Acts 12:2
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.
We’ve seen the martyrdom of Stephen. We saw persecution break out. But then we read earlier that after the conversion of Saul there was a time of peace for the believers. That peace has come to an end. James has been executed. Big James, as he was sometimes known. And it was at Herod’s bidding it happened. Look at what happens next.
3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Hey. These people like this! I’ll go after the others.
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.
Why wait until after Passover? Passover is like Christmas for us. You just…don’t do stuff on Christmas. It’s tacky. People are busy.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
So Herod executes James. He arrested Peter with the intent to bring him to trial after passover which would have ended with an execution. But something different happens to Peter. The details of this story are incredible, but I’m going to summarize verses 6 - 19.
Peter is bound in prison between two soldiers.
An angel wakes Peter, his chains fall off, and Peter follows him out of the prison.
Peter thinks it’s a vision.
The iron gate opens by itself.
The angel leaves.
Then
Peter realizes it’s real
Peter goes and finds the other believers
He tells them what happened
Herod sends people to search for Peter
Herod orders the guards be executed
I feel kind of bad for the guards, don’t you?
So what has Luke told us? James was executed. Peter was miraculously freed. Herod was behind the imprisonment of both. This final portion of Acts 12 is fascinating.
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.
20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing 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.
Graphic. This is such an interesting chapter in the middle of what Luke has been writing about to this point. Highlighting Herod. I immediately have questions. Like why did the angel rescue Peter but not James? Why was Herod struck down for not giving praise to God when it’s clear he didn’t really before? Why was it this thing that caused him to be struck down and not the killing of Jesus followers?
I think these questions can answered by the last statement of this account.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
It’s not about James. It’s not about Peter. And it’s definitely not about Herod. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about the word of God. It’s about the gospel of Jesus.
What a statement. What did the people say about Herod? This is the voice of a god. And he was silenced. But the word of the one true God. It flourished. Executing James did not stop anything. Imprisoning Peter did not stop anything. No power on this earth will stop the word of God. But when someone challenges God, which Herod did, they are struck down like it’s nothing. Herod accepted their praise. In chapter 14 of Acts, we see Paul and Barnabus surrounded by people saying they are gods. And here’s the difference, they correct the people. We are men! Herod allowed people to view him in a worshipful way. He was the center of it all. He did not fear God.
The apostles, on the other hand, feared only God, and did not fear what would happen to them, because the truth was far more important. And here is what we can so often miss. Yes Jesus says Luke 14:33
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
But Jesus also said Luke 17:33
33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.
That is obvious in the outcomes of James, Peter, and Herod in this passage. This whole passage highlights several things. The first is this.
The Cost of Discipleship
The Cost of Discipleship
Peter and James were both ready to lay down their lives. James was killed. Peter was delivered. But it was never about staying alive. It is about Jesus. His words. His actions. His call. What we carry is far more important. Because it’s news of the eternal kingdom of heaven. Which means when this physical body dies, our spirit is now with the father.
We also see in this passage
The Sovereignty of God
The Sovereignty of God
Peter is delivered. But Herod, safe and untouchable and with the words of a god, is struck down. God is on the throne. Which is why we see at the end of this passage,
The Flourishing of the Gospel
The Flourishing of the Gospel
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Jesus does not need us to fight for Him. He wants us to follow Him. He wants us to give ourselves to Him. And He fights for us. Despite all of the human efforts, the Word of God spread. Not only spread but flourish. Isn’t that encouraging? The word is greater than all of us. The word of our creator. And to be a part of that is beautiful beyond belief. To know that no matter the opposition the kingdom of heaven spreads.
The truth is we most likely won’t have to die for the sake of the Gospel. Putting our lives on the line to follow Jesus is a concept far from our experience. But what is a decision we have to make is whether we love this life more than we love God. Whether we put anything before God. That’s something we all easily do. So many people are absolutely terrified of death, and yet have no fear of God. No fear of eternal separation from God.
When the word of God is central to our lives, the words of Christ, when our praise is directed at God and not at us, we have no need of fear. I know and have true confidence in the fact that this life is temporary. I know where my eternity lies. I have put my faith in Jesus. I have accepted His gift of forgiveness, of salvation, and I continue to work out my salvation by giving Him more daily.
The Cost is our Lives
The Reward is Eternal Life
The cost to follow Jesus is our lives. All of it. But the prize, the reward, is eternal life.
I would much rather be in James place, temporarily in pain and then in the presence of God. Rather than Herod’s. Power in this life, opposed to God, then struck down and separate from God eternally.
We each have to decide what has priority in our own lives. Do you live for the praise of others? Do you keep the words of Jesus to yourself, in both word and action? Or are you free and open about Jesus as the savior? Are you confident in the gift of salvation and eternal life? Are you a follower of Jesus in the truest sense, in that every aspect of your life belongs to Him?
My prayer for each of you is to know, deeply, the assurance that comes with giving your life to Christ. The confidence in where you will be in eternity. The boldness of knowing the truth beyond the shadow of a doubt. And the joy that comes with in making Jesus the center of your life.
