Acts 12:1-25
Q.1. What prompted Herod to have Peter arrested? What did the church do about it? How likely was his escape? – (Acts 12:1-6)
King Herod was an Idumean, whose ancestry traced back to Esau’s grandson, Amalek. As did all the Herod’s, he had a hatred for Christ and the people of God (Acts 12:1 c.f. Mt.2:13-18). When he saw that it pleased the Jews to kill one of the Zebedee brothers, James, he turned on another key apostle, Peter (Acts 12:2-3). Prisons were very secure. Herod assigned four squads of soldiers to guard Peter. Meanwhile, the church fervently prayed for his release (Acts 12:4-5).Â
Q.2. What was unusual about Peter’s release from prison? Was the response of the praying believers normal? – (Acts 12:7-17)
When he was miraculously released from prison by an angel, Peter himself could not believe it – … and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision (Acts 12:9). Peter made his way to – … where many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:12). After the untimely murder of James, the praying saints could not get their heads around Peter’s release. Rhoda, the maid, was so excited that she raced in to tell the gathered church … and left Peter standing out in the cold (Acts 12:13-14 c.f. 12:8). Eventually, they opened the door after Peter’s continual knocking. They didn’t believe Rhoda’s testimony and concluded that it may have been Peter’s angel. Their response to the circumstances was typical of how people respond to the unexpected.Â
Q.3. How did Herod respond to the soldiers’ explanation? Under what circumstances did King Herod meet his end? – (Acts 12:18-23)
The soldiers were frantic when they discovered that Peter was missing. Their explanations were dismissed by Herod. They paid for their ‘irresponsibility’, with execution (Acts 12:18-19). History confirms the bloodthirstiness of Herod. The cities on the far reaches of his empire had fallen out with him, but fortunately they had won over the king’s chamberlain to plead their case. They were merchants who relied for their food on the king’s country (Acts 12:20). Herod loved himself, his power, and his own voice. While delivering an address – … an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:23).
Q.4. How successful was opposition against the church? What was the mission of Barnabas and Saul? Who was John Mark? (Acts 12:24-25 c.f. 11:30; 12:12)
It was recorded that the effect of the initial persecution, was to spread the Gospel (Acts 8:1-4). The same happened again after James was martyred – But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied (Acts 12:24). Barnabas and Saul returned from their food distribution mission to Jerusalem. The brought John Mark with them (Acts 12:25 c.f. 11:26, 30). Barnabas was John Mark’s uncle. The prayer meeting for Peter’s release in Jerusalem was at the home of Mary, John Mark’s mother (Acts 12:12 c.f. 15:37-39).