The church in Antioch was in its infancy in a city where only the strong survive; the powerful and rich call the shots; immorality was infamous, idolatry and empty spirituality was everywhere and Christians were mocked. Sound familiar? What a great place for a church.
The church in Antioch was thriving in the Spirit of the Lord. Barnabas and Saul had teamed up for a year to preach and teach making disciples. This church is an example to us. It was planted smack dab in the middle of the world with all the junk of the world trying to invade. Yet this church was a place of life and light; forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Last chapter we learned there was a famine in the land and the church of Jerusalem was impacted. The church in Antioch responded by sending a gift to them to help them through this time. This is the church being the church. Our example then is marked as a church of people of compassion and people who give.
In this study we'll see another aspect of this church we see as an example.
Acts 12:1-4
Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great. He was more like Hunter Biden than Herod the Great. He got himself in trouble several times and had to run and seek the favor of family with powerful influence. When he became king, he didn’t have a very good relationship with Rome so he gained some popularity in Judea by catering to the Jews. It made the Jewish leadership happy to see these Christians persecuted. This harassment from Herod meant people were dying for their faith. One episode of this persecution or harassment was when James, the brother of John, was put to the death by the sword. Jesus called John and James the sons of thunder. James was the first apostle martyred. It turned out that John lived the longest.
The execution of James with a sword indicates he was accused and convicted of leading people to follow false gods. This punishment comes from Deuteronomy 13:12-15:
“If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 13 ‘Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” ’—which you have not known—14 then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock—with the edge of the sword.
This appears to be the justification used by Herod to appease the Jews. It seems so strange the Sanhedrin would claim God's law but then be a part of murder. This application of 'the edge of the sword' most likely means they beheaded James. God allowed this to happen. He was not surprised. This situation wasn't something out of His control. Satan had one purpose for this and God allowed it for His purpose.
One little detail that adds some color to this event comes form secular history. Eusebius, a Roman historian, repeated a story from Clement of Alexandria saying that the soldier guarding James was so affected by his witness that he declared himself a Christian also and was also willingly executed for Jesus along side of James.
This murder of James increased Herod's popularity so he went ahead and arrested Peter also and threw him in prison. He probably would have murdered him then but Passover and the feast would have brought many visitors who could have turned against him. This crowd could have turned against Herod so he put Peter away till later, when the crowd went home.
Now Peter had already escaped prison once; Herod wasn't going to let that happen again. These four squads of 4 men each took shifts guarding Peter. At any time, 2 were chained to him while 2 stood watch outside the cell. Normally a prisoner was chained to one soldier while another stood watch, but Peter was deemed high risk and dangerous!
Acts 12:5-11
Luke lets us know that things looked rather bleak for Peter. He seemed to be in the hands of a tyrant. Some might ask, "Where is God? How can He let this happen?" Then, it's as if Luke said, "Meanwhile, the church was praying." Herod's response to this praying would have been, "So what, I'll deal with the rest of them also." But the church knew there was power in prayer and this is Luke’s message to us. He links the rescue by the angel to prayer.
Did prayer change God’s mind? Hardly. But the Lord did provide an opportunity for the church to pray in faith and trust Him. They trusted Him for many things, did they trust Him with Peter’s life. They prayed, showing that they did.
Luke said the church was in constant prayer for Peter. The idea of constant prayer means ongoing but also conveys earnest prayer. It would seem that for prayer to be constant it would have to be earnest, and vice versa. “The word used for 'constant' is ektenos that is related to ektenes which is a medical term that describes stretching a muscle to the limit.” Praying in this way is a picture of someone stretching out for all they are worth to grasp something, to reach something! These brothers and sisters were joined together in bringing their concern before God. The church was flexing its prayer muscle for all they had.
There was no doubt Peter was secure. There was no escape. The guards were doubled and he was double chained, probably because he was a previous escapee. Herod set up the impossible so God is glorified when He proved that all things are possible with Christ.
Peter was delivered out of this hopeless situation. Imagine being in prison and knowing you would be executed for the popularity and entertainment of a tyrant like Herod. Imagine all the emotions and thoughts one might have. Could you sleep? It's interesting that Peter was resting comfortably; so much so that the angel had to strike Peter to wake him up.
Peter at first thought he was just having an awesome dream, but then realized he was through the last gate, around a corner and free. I think the automatic gate might have shaken him to his senses. God had indeed done the impossible. The chains fell away, an angel led him out, the gate opened and God delivered him to freedom.
David Guzick repeats the story F.F. Bruce told of Sundar Singh, a Tibetan Christian who was freed miraculously from a prison in much the same way. For preaching of the gospel, he was thrown into a well, and a cover set over it and securely locked. He would be left in the well until he died, and he could see the bones and rotting corpses of those who had already perished in there. On the third night of his imprisonment, he heard someone unlocking the cover of the well and removing it. A voice told him to take hold of the rope that was being lowered. Sundar was grateful that the rope had a loop he could put his foot in, because he had injured his arm in the fall down into the well. He was raised up, the cover was replaced and locked, but when he looked to thank his rescuer, he could find no one. When morning came, he went back to the same place he was arrested and started preaching again. News of the preaching came to the official who had him arrested, and Sundar was brought before him again. When the official said someone must have gotten the key and released him, they searched for the key - and found it on the official’s own belt.
Acts 12:12-19
Peter interrupted a prayer meeting that apparently went late into the night. Much of the prayer was focused on God's will for Peter's life. When Peter shows up at the door Rhoda freaked out and was so excited, she didn't even open the gate for Peter. She ran to tell the others that Peter, the one they were praying for, was there!!! They scoffed at Rhoda’s claim, assuming she was off her rocker. When she kept insisting, they even asked if it was an angel she saw.
Note: There was a belief among some Jews at that time that everyone had a guardian angel and that your angel looked like you. That may be why they asked this, they thought it was Peter's angel at the door.
Evan after praying constantly and earnestly, they were astonished to see him. This astonishment is to be on the edge of losing mental composure. Peter was now a wanted man. He asked them to be quiet and tell only the brethren. No one knows where Peter went. He only showed up one more time in the book of Acts at the Jewish council. But he went on to write his letters we know as First and Second Peter.
Herod went looking for his prisoner, presumably to put him to death. There was a major ruckus because the guards were responsible for this man. The law said that any soldier allowing a prisoner to escape could receive the unserved sentence of the escaped prisoner, whether it was years in prison or death by execution. Herod ordered the execution of the 4 guards that couldn't account for Peter. Do you think they were saved? Do you suppose they listened to anything Peter told them?
Acts 12:20-24
Caesarea was place where Herod would escape to, a kind of vacation home. This was where Philip the evangelist was but it was also a Roman city and the seat of government. Herod must have imposed sanctions on Tyre and Sidon. Playing politics with food. The leaders of Tyre and Sidon made friends with the kings personal aid and asked for peace, and ultimately food.
Herod puts on his royal apparel which Josephus says is a robe of silver. Then he took his seat and began to give an oration, presenting himself to them so they could fawn over him. They flattered him with their words, calling him a god. But he was no god, he couldn't even save himself from worms. What a humiliating way to die for a man who thought much of himself. The folks who worshiped him must have been deeply disappointed. Josephus said Herod was struck with incredible pain and had to be carried away. He lingered in excruciating pain for 5 days before dying.
Herod could wear a robe, bear a title and give the oration, but inside he was a wicked man. The worm eating him up was a picture of a spiritual health. He was rotten and was consumed from the inside out. Josephus said:
(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 at 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. (349) But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the king’s recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation. Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear weeping. (350)
And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign; (351) for he reigned four years under Caius Caesar, three of them were over Philip’s tetrarchy only, and on the fourth he had that of Herod added to it; and he reigned besides those, three years under the reign of Claudius Caesar: in which time he reigned over the forementioned countries, and also had Judea added to them, as also Samaria and Cesarea. (352) The revenues that he received out of them were very great, no less than twelve millions of drachmae. Yet did he borrow great sums from others; for he was so very liberal, that his expenses exceeded his incomes; and his generosity was boundless.c[1]
God’s word grew and multiplied in great contrast to Herod. This enemy of the gospel and threat to Christianity was dealt with by God. He had killed James and created what appeared to be a hopeless situation in the life of Peter. In God's sovereignty, He allowed James to be killed and He rescued Peter from Herod’s hand.
Acts 12:25
The prayers were answered. Peter was delivered. Herod was dead. And the word of the Lord continued to grow and be multiplied. Paul & Barnabas delivered the money to Jerusalem for the famine relief.
Luke's story has just transitioned. We've gone from the church being based in Jerusalem to seeing it being based in Antioch. Peter steps out of the primary role and Saul steps in. The church is multiplying and spreading and persecution is also on the increase and spreading across the Roman empire.
Wherever the church is, we see them in the spirit, in prayer. We see compassion and care for others in their unity among the body of Christ.
©2008, 2014, 2021 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson.
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