Believers and History

Introduction

Luke has anchored his account around historical events.

Famine in the time of Claudius.

Herod Agrippa’s control of Judaea (also in the time of Claudius).

Herod Agrippa’s sudden death (this study).

We must accept that we do cannot control the times in which we live.

God knows how the world goes from beginning to end.

Our role is not to manipulate events but to obey Him and be faithful.

We will also see that Luke wants the reader to connect these events with previous ones.

Turning point #1: Acts 6:7.

A new moment now comes.

Background

Peter has fled from Jerusalem for his own safety.

This point will provide the immediate backdrop of the events we will investigate.

Political authority comes from God, but as we have seen with the events earlier in Jerusalem, political authority can target those associated with the Lord.

Herod and the Soldiers

Luke explains the mental state of the prison guards when day came to be.

They have become very anxious over what happened to Peter.

They had succumbed to a deep sleep from the angel of the Lord.

Acts also presents them as innocent victims.

We get a composite of Herod Agrippa.

He turned against believers with no explanation.

He saw the Jews liked that he executed James the brother of John.

He had Peter apprehended as well.

He observed Passover.

Herod took the following actions:

He sought Peter and did not find him (meaning Passover ended and he had him summoned).

He questioned the guards.

Having questioned them, he had them executed.

He departed from Judaea for an extended stay in Caesarea.

Herod and The Phoenicians

Luke parallels this new incident with the previous one.

Just as we do not know why Herod turned against the believers, likewise Tyre and Sidon.

All we know is that his anger was intense against them.

They sent a unified entourage to him.

Notice they came to him at Caesarea.

The representatives from Phoenicia:

Persuaded Blastos, the royal chamberlain.

Apparently, what Luke suggests is that through making these connections, they were able to come to an agreement with Herod.

The cities depended on the region of Galilee for their bread supply, so they needed to assuage Herod’s furor at them.

This could still have something to do with the effects of the earlier famine.

Luke will connect those events.

They gained their audience with Herod on what turned out to be a fateful day.

Herod dressed in bright royal garments.

He delivered a public address.

The people shouted: the voice of God and not a man.

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 8: What Other Acts Were Done by Agrippa until His Death; and after What Manner He Died

(343) Now, when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Cesarea, which was formerly called Strato’s Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar, upon his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which festival, a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of dignity through his province. (344) On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; (345) and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.” (346) Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, as he presently afterwards looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. (347) He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, “I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept of what Providence allots as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner.” (348) When he said this, his pain was become violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace; and the rumor went abroad everywhere, that he would certainly die in a little time.

Back to the Believers

After Luke provides this historical episode about Herod, he brings the audience back to the believers.

He makes two points:

These events should be compared to Acts 6:7: the only other place such language has occurred.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch taking John Mark.

They had aided those in Jerusalem, and perhaps they had been present in Jerusalem when these events transpired.