Herod and the church
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:05:02
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From Scattered to harassed
From Scattered to harassed
From the persecuted, scattered church (Act8:1) to the church at peace (Act9:31). Then came the gospel stretching out further (Act11:19-21) Tonight we see a new form of persecution that comes in, we will look at the way it comes, and the results of it.
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Local church of Jerusalem was persecuted and scattered (Act8:1)
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
The church prospered in peace and were edified as the church spread out
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
They spread out to Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch
This now brings on a new persecution, in the form of harassment. Let me give some history in our intro.
Came from Herod Agrippa I (Act12:1)
His grandfather was Herod the great (Mt2:16)
Herod the great is the one who ordered for all the male children under 2 years old to be put to death in Bethlehem
Uncle was Herod Antipas (Mt14:1-14, Lk23:8-12)
This is the one who beheaded John the Baptist
This is the one who held the mock trial of Jesus and sent him to be crucified at the request of the people
Son was Herod Agrippa II (Act25:13-26:32)
This is the one who heard the claims against Paul, who was part of the trial against Paul.
(Transition) So a little family tree, and I encourage you to note down those scriptures and read them. So we have Herod Agrippa I, who harasses the church in Jerusalem at this time. How the church responds is for our learning, for our instruction, for our education today as it was an example for the early first century church.
So, tonight here is what we want to look at
Herod harasses by killing James (Act12:1-2)
Herod harasses by imprisoning Peter (Act12:3-17)
Herod’s harassment has personal consequences (Act12:18-23)
Herod’s harassment and results to the church (Act12:24-25)
Harassment: Killing James
Harassment: Killing James
It had been a time of peace (Act9:31); a time the gospel continued to spread out as far as Antioch (Act11:19) and now back in Jerusalem things start to stir up.
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
There had been peace, there had been prophesy about the coming famine (Act11:27-28) and there had been planning help that was sent by hands of Paul and Barnabas (Act11:29-30). Help came to the Jews in time of distress and now we have Herod who is going to try to take away the peace they had and he kills James.
Question: What can we know about James from (v.2)?
He was the brother to John; he was killed by sword.
James, brother of John, son of Zebedee, called son’s of thunder (Mk1:19-20, 3:17)
He was one of the first apostles
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
And then in MK3:17 they are called “Son’s of Thunder”
17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);
James one of the inner circle of Jesus (Mk5:37, 9:2 and 14:33)
He is one of the circle of 3 that would accompany Jesus
37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
One who saw the glory of God in the transfiguration of Jesus
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
One who saw the agony and distress of the Christ in the garden.
33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.
James suffered the baptism of suffering as Jesus predicted (Mk10:35-40)
I think I need to bring in the Mark passage. So you can see that Herod was fulfilling the prophesy spoken of by Jesus
35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 “But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Question: What was the baptism that Jesus is speaking of here in the Mark passage?
(not on the screen) Baptism of death, baptism of suffering, now it does not use those words in the Mark passage, but in looking at the Acts passage you can see that this is that which Jesus spoke of.
Side note; interesting biblical fact: Outside of Mathias replacing Judas as an Apostle there is no other Apostles that were replaced when they died.
(Transition): Not much information on the death of James itself but you can see the fulfillment of prophesy, and you can also see as we head into the next section that it pleased the Jews. These are Jews not Christian Jews. These are ones who wanted the gospel to stop.
Harassment imprisons Peter
Harassment imprisons Peter
Prison can’t keep a godly man down. Look at the events after James death, Herod that he had something good going on, well, God had another plan.
This is a longer passage and want to break it up just a bit as we go.
Peter was imprisoned by a king (Act12:3-4)
3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
Question: Why was Peter imprisoned (v.3)? When was Peter imprisoned (v.3)?
Peter was imprisoned because Herod saw that killing James pleased the Jews.
Peter was imprisoned during the Passover (feast of unleavened bread).
Peter was released by angel (Act12:5-11)
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. 6 On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
Question: Pay attention to (v.11) there is much information to glean from, what did Peter know at this point?
Peter knew the Lord sent forth His angel
Peter knew he was rescued from Herod and the Jewish people and what they were expecting.
Peter goes, explains and gives instructions (Act12:12-17)
12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
OK, let’s see what we pull from the scripture here. Oh wait, here is a question.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Question: Where did Peter go? what was going on where Peter went (v.12)?
Went to the home of Mary, mother of John Mark
Many were gathered there praying
Question: So what were the people feeling that were together praying when Peter knocked (vv.13-16)?
Rhoda was joy filled (v.13)
The people were filled with unbelief (v.15) - implied
Then unbelief turned to being amazed (v.16)
Peter gave instructions (Act12:17)
17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
Question: what were Peters instructions (v.17)?
Be silent, in other words, listen up!
Report these things to James
This is James the Lord’s brother, not the apostle James. He is also known as James the lessor.
(Transition) So James the greater, the apostle died by the sword but an angel of the Lord set Peter free. Peter dies later by crucifixion, but now our story takes a turn from focusing on the apostles to focus on the king.
Harassment’s personal consequences
Harassment’s personal consequences
Choices have consequences, some good, some not so good in man’s eyes. Herod is about to have his consequences handed to him in our next section.
18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. 19 When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.
20 Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them.
22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Question: What day is the scripture speaking of (v.18); hint, look back at (v.4)?
(not on the screen or sheet) - the day Passover was over and Herod intended to bring Peter before the Jewish people, I’m sure with an intent to kill him just as Jesus was killed.
Question: how did it end for the soldiers who were to be guarding Peter (v.19)?
Herod ordered them to be put to death.
(transition) you see a shift from Herod’s intent for Peter, Herod’s dealing with the guards, now to Herod’s contempt of others and that leads to not so good consequences
Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon (v.20); it could be because He was having to care for them by providing food.
The people wanted peace with Herod, but Herod filled with pride speaks out and God hands down the consequences, maybe better put those verses back up again.
21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
Whatever it was that Herod said the people were reacting to it (v.22) - Was Herod telling them he is their god? Let’s look at the next verse and draw a conclusion
23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Question: Why was Herod struck down (Act12:23)?
He did not give glory to God
(Transition) - failing to give glory to God for the God who provides all things, drawing glory to himself had immediate consequences.
OK, interesting fact, or possible fact, It was recorded by Josephus that Herod had worms, he had stomach pain, went to his palace and died a few days later.
Harassment and results to church
Harassment and results to church
Do you know Rom8:28? How does that start? Keep that in mind as we look at this final section and draw a conclusion.
24 But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.
Question: what was the result of the harassment and the death of Herod (v.24)?
The word continued to grow and to be multiplied!
Paul and Barnabas then were able to finish their work and get John Mark to join them too.
(transition) - God’s word will not return void.
(Invitation slide- My word Isa55_11) Invitation - God’s word will accomplish what it is intended for, to save the soul of man (expand; invite) (Prayer) (Exit)