1. JAMES BEHEADED AND PETER IMPRISONED.

Acts 12:1-4.

(1) Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. (2) And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (3) And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. (4) And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

The church had made great progress since the day of Pentecost. The Lord, from His throne, had given very decided victories in favor of the church. She had been able to triumph over religious persecution, she had burst the bars of Pharisaic legalism and established a church among Gentile converts. In establishing these victories we find the Lord dealing directly with the leaders of the church. Having gained the victory over Judaism and opened the door to the Gentiles, she was now to meet her third trial. The state now came to notice the progress of the church and put herself in the way of progress. Will the Lord be able to deliver the church from the enemy of the earthly throne as He did from the strong opposition of the Jewish church? It was at the time that Christianity was spreading beyond Palestine and a Gentile church was growing in Antioch, that Saul and Barnabas were preaching to crowded meetings for a whole year without any interruption. Herod, the grandson of Herod the Great, was in full sympathy with unregenerate Judaism. At this time he was known as King Agrippa I., and was sole ruler of Palestine. The great council could not take one of the Apostles and put him to death, but the king stretched forth his hand and put to death James, the brother of John, with the sword. Why God did not stay that hand before putting James to death, shows that He did not always mean to deliver His disciples, but taught them that they were to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ. Herod had decided to do anything that would please his subjects, the Jews. Finding the death of James was highly acceptable, he arrested Peter and was only prevented from executing him immediately because the Passover feast was then being celebrated, which was not the proper time to put anyone to death. Herod, no doubt, knew that the Apostles had escaped when imprisoned by the Sanhedrim. Having already done what they could not do—put one of the Apostles to death—he now wanted to prove to the Sanhedrim that he could imprison Peter, that there would be no possible chance for him to escape before his execution. Sixteen soldiers were in charge of this one man, two inside the cell, Peter chained to them, two keeping guard outside at the inner and outer doors, others resting and ready for their time of service. It no doubt was Herod's intention to execute Peter publicly as soon as the Passover was over.

QUESTIONS.

• Give some idea as to the progress of the church since Pentecost.

• What two great victories has the church gained?

• What power is now standing in opposition to the church?

• Who was this Herod and what country did he rule?

• Who was James and how was he killed?

  He was one of the twelve, brother of John, and one of the three close followers of Jesus.

• What reason is given for imprisoning Peter?

• What time of the year is this?

2. PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON.

Acts 12:5-12.

(5) Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him, (6) And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison. (7) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. (8) And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. (9) And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by (Gr. through) the angel, but thought he saw a vision. (10) And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. (11) And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. (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 and were praying.

The state has undertaken to persecute and destroy the church. Will the church be able to fight the battle and gain the victory? When the Apostles were imprisoned by the Sanhedrim, because they preached Jesus, they were released and threatened that they must no longer teach in the name of Jesus. What were they to do? Just one thing left for them to do, and that was to get in touch with God by prayer. The church cried to the God who is the Creator, the Giver of strength and courage. They said to Him, " Lord, behold their threatening, and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy Child Jesus." God answered that prayer. They received a new baptism of the Holy Spirit. They went forth to preach with new power.

The disciples knew, not only by experience but by the teaching of Jesus, that prayer and God's Word are the weapons furnished the Christian by which to fight His battles and gain His victories. A prayer meeting was held at the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. The church was put into the furnace that in this extremity it might learn to lean heavily on the Lord, the Organizer and Builder of this church. These people, who had met at Mary's house, prayed to God without ceasing, that they might meet this opposition. On the very night before the day on which Peter was to be led forth and executed, he was sleeping between two soldiers, to whom he was chained. The Lord heard the prayers of the people. He dispatched an angel, a light shone in the prison, the angel touched Peter and raised him up, and spoke to him. His chains fell off his hands. He was told to gird himself and put on his sandals and put his garments about him and follow the angel. They came to a large iron gate, and it swung open of its own accord. The angel accompanied Peter a square and then departed. Peter now realized that it was not a dream, and knew that the Lord had sent the angel to deliver him from Herod and the pleasure of the Jews. Peter went to the house of Mary, where many people were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door of the gate. A damsel came to see what it was. She recognized Peter's voice, and when she said it was Peter they would not believe it but said, " If it is anything it is Peter's angel."

QUESTIONS.

• When and how were the Apostles delivered from the prison before?

• How did they gain the victory when threatened by the Sanhedrim not to preach?

• What was the church's only method by which to meet this opposition?

• Why did Herod make the prison so secure at this time?

• Describe Peter's release from prison.

• Why did Peter not know what was done by the Angel?

  All seemed so much like a dream that he was uncertain at first whether his deliverance was real or only a vision.

• Where did Peter come to himself?

• Where had the faithful church members a prayer meeting?

3. PETER SUDDENLY APPEARS AT PRAYER MEETING.

Acts 12:13-17.

(13) And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda. (14) And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate. (15) And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel. (16) But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. (17) But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.

When Peter arrived at the house he knocked at the door of the gate. A damsel was sent to investigate. There was some danger in having a gathering of this kind in a town, in the midst of so many enemies, with a ruler who was so ready to execute. The damsel recognized Peters voice and her heart filled with gladness; she went into the house and reported that it was Peter. But the people would not believe, and said that it must be Peter's angel. Peter continued to knock at the door, and when the people opened they were astonished when they saw him standing there. It was not the time to make a great noise, and so he beckoned with his hand that all should remain quiet. Then he told them how the angel had come and led him forth out of prison. Now there may have been other groups about Jerusalem that were engaged in prayer, and Peter desired that they should also be informed of his deliverance. Peter left this place, but did not give any information as to where he went.

QUESTIONS.

• What did Peter do when he arrived at the meeting?

  Knocked at the small low door at the entrance of the court-yard. This door was always kept fastened and never opened until the visitor had satisfied inquiries.

• How did Rhoda know him and what did she do? Why should people be surprised when their prayers are answered?

  They were astonished, not really at the fact of an answer, but at the way in which it came.

• Why did Peter beckon to them to hold their peace?

  Their joy was so loud in its expression, and this unusual noise was dangerous, as it might call attention to his place of escape.

• What other persons were to be informed of his release?

• Who was James?

  The brother of our Lord, and the pastor of the church at Jerusalem.

4. DEATH OF KEEPERS AND HEROD.

Acts 12:18-23.

(18) Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. (19) And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death (Gr. led away to death). And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and tarried there.

(20) Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king's country. (21) And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne (or, judgment-seat), and made an oration unto them. (22) And the people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, not of a man. (23) And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

In this paragraph our attention is not given to the church, but to the king and to the prison guards.

This release from prison must have been during the early morning watch. If this had occurred early in the night the discovery would have been made at the time when the guards were changed. Is it any wonder that such stir should be among these soldiers? It was the morning for Peter's execution. Peter was gone. The soldiers were put on trial. They could not account for Peter's release. If they could have given any reason for Peter being absent from the prison they might have been able to save their lives. They were examined by the court, and the court would not admit any Divine agency in the evidence, and so they were sure to be held as unfaithful guards. Instead of one man, Peter, being executed, sixteen men were now put to death. Mary, Peter, and a hundred others could have told the royal officers, if they would have believed them, how Peter got away.

The feast of the Passover was now at an end and Herod left Jerusalem and returned to Caesarea. Here he learned of a political difficulty. The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, cities of Phoenicia, had offended him. There must be some reconciliation. These people secured the friendship of the king's high officer, Blastus, and the difficulty was adjusted. It was a matter of business, because the people of Phoenicia, bordering on the king's country, and because of commercial interest, must remain, under all circumstances, upon friendly terms with the king. A day was fixed for a great meeting, when the king, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and made an oration to the ambassadors from Tyre and Sidon.

When Herod had finished his address, the people testified their appreciation of his great power by loud applause, shouting, " It is the voice of a god and not of a man! " The king, instead of rebuking this flattery, received it as belonging to him. He descended from his throne, a very ill man. Thus he was smitten with a horrible and incurable disease. The angel was dispatched from the Lord, not to release him like he did Peter from the grip of his cruel hand, but to smite him because he fought against God and took honor to himself that belonged to God.

QUESTIONS.

• Why were the guards put to death?

• Did they not know where Peter was?

  Peter had escaped during the night, let out by the angel, and the guards were embarrassed in the morning when Peter could not be found.

• What really displeased Herod? Why did Herod go to Caesarea?

  There must have been sixteen of them, and a conscience stained by the blood of an Apostle and sixteen faithful guards could not very well remain where the deed was done.

• Why was he angry at the people of Phoenicia?

• When was Herod punished and how?

  The Lord on His throne has at His command angels to send forth to give assistance to His faithful workers, for His cause. But He also has at His command angels to dispatch and punish those by Divine judgment who are His great opponents.

5. SAUL AND BARNABAS RETURN TO ANTIOCH.

Acts 12:24-25.

(24) But the word of God grew and multiplied.

(25) And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.

There was nothing that could stand in the way of the onward march of the Word of God. It pushed out of its path of progress the radical traditional system of the Jewish Sanhedrim, opened the door to the Gentile world and not only defeated the power of the state, but pronounced Divine judgment upon the king who sat upon the throne. During this entire period of opposition the Word of God was gaining in influence and power, and men and women were added to this new type of heavenly citizenship.

It was during the time of the famine and the strong opposition of the state against the church that they took the contribution of the Antioch church to the disciples in Judea and Jerusalem. Just where they were during this entire time was not stated, but on returning to Antioch, John Mark, who was the son at whose home the prayer meeting was held on the night Peter was released from prison, accompanied them. On returning to the Antioch church, they would not have a very inspiring report to give of the work at Jerusalem, unless they had learned and could tell of Peter's deliverance and the Divine judgment which had fallen upon Herod.

QUESTIONS.

• What victories were gained by the Word of God?

• How did the persecution affect the growth of the church?

• When did they return?

  When they had paid in the money to the proper person and had taken care about the distribution of it to the persons for whom it was collected.

• Who accompanied them and what preparation had he?