Turning the World Upside Down: Divine Justice: Acts 12:1-24

I. The Divine Predicament vs. 1-5

A. While they praised Yahweh for persecution, they didn’t welcome it and called it what it was..mistreatment.

B. James is the first martyred apostle. Many like Peter, and others will as the question: Why? Why did they die and I live? Only Yahweh knows the answer for that.

C. The reason a sword was used was because it was the reserved execution method of murders and apostates. This was a defining moment in Israel’s rejection of the gospel. As well as a way to humiliate the family.

D. The church prayed. Fervently is the same word for agonize. They agonized in prayer for Peter.

II. The Divine Solution vs. 6-19

A. 4 squads would equal to 16 soliders to guard 1 man. What was Herod so afraid of?....

B. A praying church. The world no longer is afraid of the church. The church is afraid of the world. Because we are powerless. And we are powerless because of our lack of prayer.

C. Peter slept soundly, because he was okay with whatever God decided to do.

John 21:18 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”

D. Peter was sleeping so well that the angel needed to hit him to wake him up. That is trusting in the sovereignty of God!

E. Peter probably was still groggy from sleep, hence the confusion about reality.

F. According to the Jewish superstition, one’s guardian angel could take on the person’s appearance.

G. Peter left Jerusalem and traveled. This is the transition of Peter being the Senior or Lead pastor to James the half-brother of Jesus being the Senior or Lead pastor in Jerusalem.

H. The guards not Peter were executed. There are always casualties in war. While these men were innocent of helping Peter escape, no one in innocent of sin.

III. The Divine Retribution vs. 20-24

A. Herod’s political executions backfired on him, so he leaves embarrassed to deal with another problem.

B. Josephus the historian says he wore a shiny silver robe.

C. Herod died 5 days later, by worms eating him from the inside out. An excruciating death. Publicly known.