Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. “About the time” the church in Antioch was being established by Barnabas and Saul, the church in Jerusalem was experiencing more than a famine (Ac 11:28). Herod the king was waging his own war against Christians.

2. There are three Herods mentioned in the book of Acts which gives us a historical chronology and setting: #1 Herod Antipas (4 BC-AD 39) - Ac 4:27; 13:1; #2 Herod Agrippa I (AD 37-44) - Ac 12:1-23; #3 Herod Agrippa II (AD 53-93) - Ac 25:13-26:32.

3. [1] This Herod (Agrippa I) was the grandson of Herod the Great. He was given the title “king” over Palestine by Caligula, and given the full region of his grandfather by Claudius. He reigned from AD 37-44. During which time, similar to his grandfather, he zealously pursued Jewish policies and for political purposes, he pursued the friendship of the Jews.

4. Agrippa, desirous to remain popular with the Jews, seized some of the more prominent and outspoken Christians “belonging to the church.” His intent was to “mistreat” (kakoō - treat badly, slavery - Ac 7:6, death - Ac 12:2) and do physical harm to them.

B. The Martyrdom of James, the Brother of John (Ac 12:2)

1. [2] The church was about to experience its first apostolic martyrdom. James, the brother of John would be the first of the twelve.

2. James was one of the sons of Zebedee, being the elder to John (Mt 4:12). James and John were fishermen by trade when Jesus called them to follow Him. They were called the “sons of thunder” most likely for their thunderous personalities (Mk 3:17 cf. Lk 9:54). James was one of three that Jesus took up to the mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2). The only other mention of James the Greater in Acts was the numbering the twelve in the upper room (Ac 1:13).

3. His “death” (anaireō - put an end to, put to death, execution) probably was not a result of a thunderous personality but as a bold leader and teacher in the church. The death by “sword” (machaira - originally a short knife but also referred to a saber) may indicate that he was accused of bringing in the teaching of false gods (Dt 13:12-15) and would mean decapitation (cf. Jewish Law - Mishnah Sanhedrin 9:1, 10:4).

4. James’ death, was the only martyrdom of an apostle actually recorded in Scripture.

II. THE ARREST OF PETER

A. Peter Placed in Maximum Security (Ac 12:3-4)

1. [3] Herod, the politician seeking the approval of the Jews, was inspired by their overwhelming response. Since his Christian Eradication Policy was working, He pursued Peter and had him arrested. However, what prolonged Peter’s trial and sure execution, was the fact that it was during the time of Unleavened Bread.

2. [4] Nevertheless, Peter was “seized” (piazō - lay hold of by force) and put in prison for trial immediately after the Passover.

3. Whether because Herod’s desire to protect the victim of his popularity or because the Jews warned of Peter’s previous escape (Ac 5:19), his imprisonment was made secure. He was “delivered” (paradidōmi - hand over, entrusted to) over to four “squads” (tetradios, detachment of four soldiers, quaternion) totaling sixteen soldiers. The squads would take shifts being chained to Peter and securing the door (vs. 6).

B. The Fervent Prayers of the Church (Ac 12:5)

1. [5] Luke’s words are a dramatic defining moment. “On the one hand” (men - de construction) Peter was securely being kept in prison.

2. However, “on the other hand” (the better hand) prayer was being made to God for Peter. It was the “church” (ekklasia) who praying for Peter in this dire situation and they were praying “fervently” (entenōs - adv. Medical term for stretching out, i.e. continuous and fervently) for him.

III. THE SECOND MIRACULOUS RELEASE OF PETER

A. Peter About to be Tried (Ac 12:6)

1. [6] When the Passover was over, Herod was planning to bring Peter to public trial where he would most assuredly endure the same fate as James.

2. Peter was sleeping between two of the soldiers and had a chain attached to each of them. The other two soldiers (vs. 10) were positioned at the front door of the prison to keep watch. Escape or rescue was humanly impossible.

B. The Angel’s Miraculous Rescue (Ac 12:7-10)

1. [7] Then suddenly, everything changed with the appearance of an angel of the Lord who “stood before” (epthistāmi - stand near, appear suddenly, cf. Lk 2:9) them. His presence “shone” in the cell with what was most likely a reflection of the glory of God. This has been the fourth appearance of angels in the book of Acts (Ac 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7).

2. It was remarkable that Peter was asleep in the first place on the very night of his possible execution. Peter’s faith along with the fervent prayers of the church allowed him peaceful slumber.

3. In fact, in what appears to be slightly humorous, the angel had to “strike” (patassō - used for a gentle blow as well as a fatal blow, Mt 26:31; Ac 7:24) Peter to wake him. We find that the angel must not only instruct him to put on each piece of clothing, but that it took Peter a little while to realize that what was happening was real (cf. Ac 12:19, 11). Nevertheless, Peter’s events were both real and supernatural, for the chains miraculously “fell off” (ekpiptō - drop or fall off, Jm 1:11) his hands.

4. [8] After being instructed to fasten his belt, put on his sandals, wrap his coat (cloak) around himself, Peter was commanded to follow the angel.

5. [9] Peter followed the angel in this escape, but Luke states that he did not “know” (pluperfect - oida - know, realize, comprehend -“did not realize and continued not to realize”) if all that was happening was “real” (alāthās - true or real). Out of grogginess mixed with the difficulty to discern between a vision and an actual event (cf. Paul - 2Co 12:2-3), Peter thought he was seeing a “vision” (horama - Mt 17:9; Ac 9:12; 10:3; 16:9; 18:9).

6. [10] In further miraculous events, the angel, with Peter following, passed the first and second guards on duty. This is miraculous in its own right for the soldiers were probably awake since they were trained and threatened with death not to fall asleep on their watch (cf. Ac 12:19).

7. They came to a locked iron gate that leads into the city. However, the gate miraculously opened by itself. The Greek word for “by itself” is the word automatā from which we get our English word “automatic.” The gate opened of its own accord by the invisible hand of God.

8. After they had gone down one street, the angel disappeared as quickly as he first appeared.

C. Peter Gives Glory to God (Ac 12:11)

1. [11] It was at this time that Peter became fully awake and “came to himself” (en eautō gegomenos), realizing that he was safely out in the city and that what had transpired was real. Peter’s words state that he “knew” (oida) “for sure” (alāthōs - truly) “now” (nun).

2. However, he also knew that the source of His deliverance was ultimately from the Lord, though he used His angel. He knew that he had been “rescued” (exaireō - taken out, removed) from the hand of Herod and the Jewish people. In reality, he was delivered from the sword, for which those in the war against Christianity were “expecting” (prosdokaō - await or anticipate) and anticipating.

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.

1. It was the 2nd-century Church Father Tertullian who wrote "the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church." Such devotion to our Lord is not only called upon but also emboldens the church.

2. Not mentioned in the inspired canon, Foxes Book of Martyrs records that, “as James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the apostle's extraordinary courage and undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon, professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they were both beheaded at the same time.” Martyrdom emboldens believers and furthers the seeds of the Gospel.

B. Fervent prayer is necessary for the persecuted church.

1. As believers, we ought always to be fervent in prayer (Lk 22:44; Ac 2:42; Col 4:2). But we are to have a heightened vigilance and fervency in prayer for those being persecuted and afflicted.

2. Prayer is to be made not only for safety but to speak the Word of God with boldness (Ac 4:29-31).

3. We can give thanks for Christian lawyers who are diligently working to see justice done. We can do what we can to see that government officials are exhausting all avenues. But our most powerful responsibility as believers is to pray continuously and fervently.

4. We have learned n Acts that we are the church, we are Christians, we are the body of Christ and we care for the body with fervent care and fervent prayer.

C. Great things happen when prayer aligns with God’s will.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516