*Acts 12:1-25
King Herod persecutes the early church, killing James and imprisoning Peter, who is miraculously freed by an angel.
- Persecution by Herod Agrippa I:
- Herod Agrippa I, king of Judea, begins to persecute members of the early Christian church.
- James, the brother of John and one of the original disciples of Jesus, is executed by the sword.
- Seeing the approval from the Jewish people, Herod also arrests Peter, intending to bring him to trial after the Passover.
- Peter’s Miraculous Escape:
- Peter is imprisoned, guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. He is bound with chains and held between two soldiers.
- The night before his trial, an angel of the Lord appears in the prison cell. The angel wakes Peter, and his chains fall off.
- The angel instructs Peter to dress and follow him. They pass by two guard posts and reach the city gate, which opens by itself. They walk one street, and then the angel disappears.
- Peter realizes he has been miraculously saved and goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many believers are gathered and praying.
- Reaction of the Believers:
- At Mary’s house, a servant girl named Rhoda recognizes Peter’s voice at the door but, in her joy, leaves him outside while she runs to tell the others.
- Initially, the believers think Rhoda is mistaken or that it is Peter’s angel. Peter continues knocking, and when they open the door, they are astonished.
- Herod’s Response:
- The next morning, there is confusion among the soldiers as to what happened to Peter. Herod orders a search but they do not find him.
- Herod interrogates the guards and then orders their execution.
- Herod’s Downfall:
- Herod travels to Caesarea. He is angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they seek peace because they rely on the king’s country for food.
- On an appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal robes, delivers a public address. The people acclaim him as a god.
- An angel of the Lord strikes Herod down because he does not give glory to God, and he is eaten by worms and dies.
- Spread of the Word:
- Despite the persecution, the word of God continues to grow and spread.
- Barnabas and Saul complete their relief mission in Jerusalem and return to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them.
Acts 12:1-25 teaches us that God is in control, even when things seem impossible. When Peter was in prison, the church prayed, and God miraculously rescued him. This reminds us to trust God in difficult times and to pray with faith, knowing He hears us. It also shows that God’s power is greater than any human authority. We can apply this by turning to God in prayer when we face challenges and believing that He can work in ways we don’t expect. No matter the situation, God’s plans will always succeed.
Acts 12:1-25 (WEB)
12:1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. 8 The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.