Acts 12 Bible Class

Persecution of James

Acts Ch. 7 we see Stephen stoned to death.

Acts Ch. 8:1-3 We see the church is persecuted greatly.

But in Ch. 9:31 we see the church is at peace

Ch 10 we see persecution again

Then from Chapter 11 to 12 the writer Luke goes from Barnabnus and Saul in their tour in Judea and switches to Peter and James in Jerusalem.

Someone read vs 1-6

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

1. This Is Herod Agrippa 1struled as king of Judea 41-44 AD (kills an Apostle)

a. He is grandson Of Herod the great, Do yall remember what he did? killed the toddlers in Bethlehem.

2. He is the nephew of Herod Antipas who killed John the Baptist. (Prophet)

a. Jesus calls Herod a fox in Luke 13:32 which tells us some characteristics of him. Cunning, sneaky. Does anyone here raise Chickens?

3. Herod Agrippa does not come from a good family, in fact you don’t hear of people name Herod; they were very evil people.

Act 12:2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

1. Ever heard like father like son, he comes from a family of murders. His grandpa murdered babies trying to kill the messiah, his uncle killed a prophet John the Baptist and now he kills an Apostle James.

2. This is the First Apostle to get killed and Luke describes it in 11 words.

a. Luke does not go into much detail about James’s death but is going to go into great detail on Peters escape.

b. Perhaps its because Luke knows that James is in a bettter place now for his works he done,

c. but we will see what the inspired writer wants us to know threw out the rest of the chapter.

3. James was the son of Zebedee and brother of John.

4. James was part of the inner circle of the Apostles, he was one of the three to get to go up on mount transfiguration. Who did he go up mountain with and who did they see? James, John, Peter. Moses, Elisha

5. James died somewhere to the end of Herod Agrippa rule so would have been right at 10 years after Jesus died on the cross and as we see in vs 3 the Passover, he died the same time of year.

Act 12:3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

1. The Jews hated Christianity, and because murdering James pleased them, Herod further wants to kill Peter to excite them more.

2. Why was peter thrown in prison and not killed right away like James? Possibly could not find him until the days of unleavened bread started. End of verse 3 says then the days of unleavened bread, so possibly Herod did not want to kill him during this time to make the Jews angry.

a. Herod favored the Jews and their traditions

3. We see the days of unleavened bread this was 7 days of eating unleavened bread, he apparently cannot find Peter until the unleavened period started, and because Herod does not want to displease the Jews. He’s going to put him in prison until the Passover is over.

Act 12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quat-ernions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

1. Four Quat-ernions of soldiers.

a. Anyone know how many soldier’s is this? One quat-ernion is 4 soldiers, so he put 16 soldiers over Peter.

b. Two soldiers in the cell with Peter.

c. At least two at the door, and then the rest keeping guard around the prison. Perhaps they were taking shifts.

2. KJV Easter, ASV, ESV Passover

Act 12:5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

1. What Weapon do we see the church using on Peters behalf?

2. We know Peter is in this prison, in chains with two guard, has multiple guards watching the facility and huge iron gates to get out, and the people are praying to God for Peter.

3. They were not trying to protest but going to God first in prayer, would be nice if the whole world would go to God first instead of taking matters into their own hands.

4. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

a. We are fixing to see their prayers are heard and answered.

b. Now they may have notbeen praying for God to rescue him, we do not know, but we do know they were praying for him as we see in verse 5.

5. Ephesians 6:10-20 Put on the full armor of God. VS.18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” How can we expect God to help us if we never talk to Him? How long would a relationship between man and wife last if they never talk to each other.

6. 1Th 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”.

7. WE MUST BE A PEOPLE PRAYER.

Act 12:6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

1. We see the night before Peter is to be killed, he was sleeping to get rest. WE SEE PETER AT PEACE.

a. How nice it was for Peter to know that he would be with the Lord, he had fought the good fight.

b. John 21:18-19 Jesus predicts Peters death and in vs 19 Jesus said: his death would glorify God.

c. Peter was most likely at peace remembering what Jesus had told him, when he chose to follow Him.

Someone read vs 7-9

1. We can tell from the text that Peter was wore out; you would of thought just the bright light shining on him would of woke him, but the angel even smote him KJV reads, and helped him up. Anyone in here ever went on mission trip, or did a lot of door knocking in door knocking campaign?

2. How does Peter react to the angel? He obeys, wouldn’t it be amazing if all men could just do as God says, without questioning and murmuring! We see this threw out Scripture and threw out the world today.

3. We see in vs 9 that he was thinking he was having a vision, apparently, It was hard for Peter to process this miraculous escape after being in such a deep sleep. From being so exhausted.

Read 10-11

Act 12:10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Act 12:11And 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.

1. They escape out of Prison, and the angel departs.

2. The angel did his part.

3. Vs 11 Then we see Peter come to himself. Seems Peter thought he was seeing a vision the entire time until he was alone.

4. Have you ever been In a deep sleep, maybe working a couple days straight; and something happens waking you up and you almost think your dreaming?

Someone read Vs 12-17

Act 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Act 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

Act 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

Act 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

Act 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

Act 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

1. Vs. 12 How did he know where Mary’s house was?

a. Perhaps he been there before.

b. They would come together and fellowship outside of services and go to each other’s home daily. We need have this kind of relationship with out brothers and sisters in Christ.

c. Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

d. Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

e. But we see Peter goes to find his breathren, Where do we go to escape the world, we go to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

f. We see he goes to Marys the mother of John sur Marks. Anyone know what book he wrote? Mark

g. Mary would also be aunt to Barnabas (Colosions 4:10).

h. The text does not specify but perhaps she was a widow at this time.

2. Vs 13 A servant named Rhoda; this lets us know that Mary was perhaps wealthy: she had a big house to be able to house all those praying, and even had a servant.

3. Vs. 14 So surprised to hear his voice she does not let him in but runs in with Joy. They had been praying for him for days, and to see those prayers answered was a time for rejoicing.

4. What was there response? 15

a. Thou are Mad!!

b. She constantly affirmed he was there.

c. It’s his angel. Now anytime we see someone see a angel are they running with gladness? No, they fear.

d. What does this unbelief or doubt remind you of?

e. John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

i. I used to think way to go Thomas for seeking prove. But then after studying Luke about the resurrection, if you look at Luke 24:10-11 the woman left the tomb to go tell the apostles that Jesus had risen. They were eyewitnesses and they believed them not.

f. Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

g. Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

h. Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

i. All 11 Apostles did not believe the very eyewitnesses that spoke to angels about Him rising, everyone wants to blame Thomas, but it was all of them.

j. The same thing is happening here with Peter at Mary’s house, they do not believe. They have been praying without ceasing for Peter and they don’t believe when has at the door.

k. They think it is his angel.

5. Vs 16-17 They open the door and are astonished to see him.

a. Vs 17 hands up hold peace and keep quietHe tells them of how the angel escaped him out of prison and broke his chains and saved him and tells him to go tell James.

b. He just wants to bring them good news and relief.

c. The James he is talking about?

i. James Christ’s brother

ii. James’s son of Zebedee got killed at beginning of chapter.

d. Then we see peterdepart and he will be out of picture till Acts chapter 15

e. Him departing shows us that when we are being persecuted to the point of death sometimes, we should depart to another town.

f. We see what God did to save him from execution to continue to do His work and he does that.

6. Someone read Vs 18 -19

a. Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

b. Act 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

c. We see the miraculous escape in vs 18 as they were unaware of anything happening to Peter even the next day.

d. Why were they to be put to death? Vs 19 Under Roman law they were to be put to death for such a crime, but Herod examined them and could not find out what happened to Peter.

e. But he has the 16 innocent guards put to death. Perhaps it’s because He did not want the word getting out of something miraculous happening.

f. Remember he is a king and later we are going to see he speaks to the people as if he is a god, so he does not want the word getting out of this miraculous escape. So he sheds innocent blood, No wander he departed; how would you feel putting 16 of your own men that were loyal to you to death.

g. This story is similar to the guards at the tomb. Remember what happened to them after Jesus was missing? They were paid off because they did not want the word to get out.

Someone read 20-23

The Death of Herod

Act 12:20And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's country.

1. I’m not sure why Herod is displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but we see that Herod was in control of their economy’s food supply, says they were nourished by the Kings country.

2. As far as Blatus, this is only time he is mentioned in the Bible. A kings Chamberlain would be the chief officer in the kings household, he would be spokesman for the king to the council or the people.

3. So they make blatus their friend to try to help bring peace between Herod and them.

Act 12:21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

Act 12:22And the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

Act 12:23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost.

1. Vs 21-23 On a set day this is probably some big feast or festival. The text says arrayed in royal appeal. This would have been some fancy clothing that arrayed with the sun so it was shiny, some commentators say robe of that’s all silver or gold perhaps.

2. Josephus the Jew who was a Roman Historian in the first century; is the only source that gives to this account, now he was not a inspired writer by no means and his information needs to be taking with a grain of salt.

a. The festival was for celebrating in honor Claudius Ceasar.

b. His royal appaeel was a robe woven entirly of silver, which glistened in the sun

3. But we see he sits on his throne and delivers a speech to them, and as soon as he finishes the speech the people shout that he’s talking as he is god, in others words he was speaking as a god and the people were praising him and this upset God.

4. An angel smote him, now Luke does not say if the people saw the angel. But something I do want to point out is he was eaten of worms and then gave up the ghost.

a. In other words, he was not killed when the angel smote him but was given a plague of worms that literally ate him alive and killed him.

5. What a painful way to die.

6. The historian Josephus says that Herod Agrippa lingered in torture for five days with intestinal worms, and the rotting of his flesh produced worms.

7. We see the Judgement of God which is reserved in the future.

a. as a warning of those that are wicked

Read vs 24-25

Act 12:24But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Act 12:25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

1. The Word of God grew and multiplied.

a. We can only imagine that all of those that saw Gods judgement on Herod would turn to the truth.

b. One thing interesting: we see 4 times in Acts were the disciples and the church grew and multiplied in Jerusalem, Judea and Galilee and then from here on to the rest of the world.

i. Acts 6:1 the disciples was multiplied,

ii. Acts 6:7 the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly

iii. Acts 9:31 the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

iv. Act 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

c. Now prophesy has been fulfilled of the Gospel spreading.

d. Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

e. Sometimes we may feel like we are in a losing battle and that people will just not listen or the church is declining, but threw out Scripture, Gods people fell away and then grew.

2. We see Herod tried to stop the church from growing and persecuting the leaders the Apostles, but no man can stop the Lords church from growing.

3. As persecution starts to rise against Christians, the church continued to grow and not just grow but multiply, there is nothing in this world that can stop the cause for Christ.

4. Nothing can stop the Gospel.

Vs 25 now Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem, this is where Acts 11:30 left off. And this is where we see the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

We see they take John Sur Mark with them.

They will spread the Gospel to all the world to the end of the earth from this chapter on and this is where we fit in as the church to spread the Gospel till the end of the earth.

In this chapter we see:

We saw the Persecution of James.

Then the miraculous escape of Peter, which we see the disciples were praying for him.

The chapter ends with Herod getting judgement on him

Then we see Gods Word grew and multiplied.

Application:

WHEN WE FAVE PERSECUTION.

1. We must be a people of prayer and listen to God.

2. God will answer our prayers, they may not be on our time.

3. Do the work of the kingdom in continual of spreading the Gospel.

4. Those that are persecuting us will have to face judgement.

5. The Word of God will continue to grow and multiply.

6. There is nothing that will stop the Gospel!!!