God’s Power Can’t Be Stopped — Even When the Church Is Under Attack (Acts 12:1–25)
Have you ever felt like things were out of control? Like the people doing wrong were winning, and those doing good were suffering? That’s how it must have felt for the early church in Acts 12. But this chapter reminds us of a powerful truth: even when things look dark, God is still in control.
Trouble for the Church
At this point in the story, the early church was growing—but they were also facing serious danger. King Herod Agrippa I, who ruled in Jerusalem, began to attack the leaders of the church. He had the apostle James (the brother of John) killed with a sword. This was heartbreaking.
When Herod saw that this made some people happy, he went further—he arrested Peter, one of the main leaders of the church. He planned to put Peter on trial after the Passover festival. To make sure Peter didn’t escape, Herod had him chained and guarded by 16 soldiers.
Things looked hopeless.
The Church Prays
But the church didn’t give up. They couldn’t break Peter out of prison—but they could pray. And that’s exactly what they did. Day and night, the believers prayed earnestly for Peter’s release.
What happened next was nothing short of a miracle.
God Sends an Angel
The night before Peter’s trial, while he was sleeping between two guards, an angel of the Lord appeared. A bright light filled the cell. The angel woke Peter up, tapped him on the side, and said, “Quick, get up!”
The chains fell off Peter’s wrists. The angel told him to get dressed and follow him. Peter thought he was dreaming, but he did as he was told. They walked past guards and out through the prison gates—which opened by themselves! Then the angel disappeared.
Peter finally realized, “This is real! God has rescued me!” So he went straight to the house where many believers were praying.
Surprise at the Prayer Meeting
Peter knocked on the door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized his voice but got so excited that she ran back inside without opening the door!
“Peter is at the door!” she told everyone.
They didn’t believe her. “You’re out of your mind,” they said. But Peter kept knocking, and when they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
Peter told them how God had rescued him, and then he left to stay safe somewhere else.
A Warning to the Proud
While Peter was saved, things didn’t go well for King Herod. A little later, he gave a speech in front of a crowd, and the people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” Herod liked the attention and didn’t give credit to God.
Because of his pride, God struck him down, and Herod died.
The Church Keeps Growing
Even after all the trouble and danger, the chapter ends with hope:
“But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.” (Acts 12:24)
God’s mission couldn’t be stopped. His power was greater than prison walls, soldiers, or kings.
What We Can Learn from Acts 12
- God hears our prayers – Even when we feel powerless, prayer connects us to God’s power.
- God’s timing is perfect – Peter was rescued at the last possible moment, reminding us that God never forgets us.
- God is more powerful than any leader or enemy – Herod tried to stop God’s work, but in the end, it was Herod who was stopped.
- The church moves forward – Even in tough times, God’s message keeps spreading.
Final Thought:
When things look darkest, don’t give up—pray. Trust that God is still working, even when you can’t see it yet. Just like He did for Peter and the early church, He still makes a way when there seems to be no way.
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.