Enduring Suffering by Trusting God’s Sovereignty (Acts 12)

Today’s reflections from Acts chapter 12 address the way the church in Jerusalem endured suffering under the hand of Herod Agrippa. 

• Acts 12 essentially has 3 main movements: (1) James is killed & Peter imprisoned  (12:1-5); (2) the miraculous rescue of Peter; and (3) Herod’s abrupt and gruesome death (12:20-25).
• Today’s episode will walk through James’ martyrdom by the sword, Peter’s imprisonment and rescue, and what became of Herod Agrippa.

Part 1: Herod Assails the Church

• Here, in Acts chapter 12, we see the first Apostle martyred for their profession of Jesus.  The chapter opens with the words: “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church” (12:1).
  • Certainly, it seems as the chapters of Acts roll on, we see the intensity of persecution being taken up a notch.
• On a historical note – this Herod would have been Herod Agrippa (the first) – a grandson of Herod the Great.  Because of his upbringing and childhood friends in Rome — friends who would become emperors (namely Caligula and Claudius) — Herod Agrippa was granted rule over several territories in Judea.  This area of his rule expanded until it eventually would reach essentially the same size as his grandfather’s rule.
• As we read these opening verses, the words from the prayer of the Church in Acts 4 come to mind:
  • “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed — for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness” (4:26-29).
  • Where Psalm 2 is quoted and certainly fulfilled in the execution of Jesus at the hands of wicked men, the picture of the kings of the earth setting themselves against the Lord and against his Anointed can also be extended to the church.  And just as the Christ did not evade the cross — so now His bride must face persecution.
• Herod’s violent hands included the execution of James — this was James, the Apostle, the brother of John.  There is another James that we hear about in this chapter (see v.17).  That James was the author of the book of James, the brother of Jesus, and he would become a significant leader in the church as we see later in the book of Acts.
  • When Herod saw that the execution of James pleased the Jews, he then arrested Peter also – clearly with the intent to execute him as well. 
  • In God’s providence, Peter’s arrest occurred during the seven days following the Passover meal, “the days of the Unleavened Bread.”  As Herod’s goal was to curry more favor with the Jews, he needed to wait until after the Passover to execute Peter.
  • So, here Peter sat – kept in prison – under the guard of four squads of soldiers.  And as Herod eagerly awaited the end of Passover to execute Peter, the church earnestly prayed to God for him.

Part 2: Peter’s Miraculous Rescue

• Imagine what would be going through Peter’s mind!  A fishing colleague for years, a dear friend and comrade in the cause of Christ — a man with whom he had spent three years as part of the inner circle following Jesus — James had just been murdered at the hands of the same man who imprisoned him.
  • You would know that Herod’s intention was to wait until the end of the celebration – then you would meet the same fate.
  • And on that very night, when Herod was about to bring Peter out, on that very night something unexpected happened.
• Verse 6 paints the impossible picture — Peter sleeping between 2 soldiers, bound with 2 chains, and sentries before the door guarding the prison.  It is clear — no one would be coming in to rescue Peter, and there would be no way of sneaking out.
• But then verse 7 – “behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to [Peter] and a light shone in the cell.”  Peter was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike Peter on the side to wake him!
  • Let me pause for a moment here — on the eve of his execution, Peter was not only able to get a little bit of sleep — he was sleeping hard!  In the midst of the tumultuous circumstances, the death of a dear friend, and his own impending execution, Peter slept.  This is amazing!  We can consider three things:
    • First, perhaps Peter was exhausted with grief over James — which is possible, but knowing your own death is scheduled for the morning would certainly be unsettling.  
    • Second, perhaps Peter had utter confidence that the Lord would rescue him — he had experienced a prison break before in Acts 5.  
    • Or third, perhaps Peter was resting in the sovereign hands of God – Peter knew that God could deliver him, but he also knew that James was martyred and he could be next.  Whether the Lord deliver him or he be killed at the hands of Herod – in life and in death he was secure in the hands of the Lord.
      • Psalms 3 and 4, likely written by David in the midst of enemies perusing him wrote these words:  “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around” (3:5-6)
      • “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (4:8)
      • And so, Peter slept.
• What follows is the wonderful account of Peter’s deliverance and I encourage you to read it in its entirety.
  • However, let us pause to take note of one thing: After Peter is out of the prison, he goes to the house where many disciples were gathered praying for him.  When he knocked on the door, and the servant girl reported it to the people — they did not believe her at first — Peter kept knocking and finally they opened up.
    • Let us consider this — these believers had been praying for the Lord to intervene and when He did they couldn’t believe it! 
    • Three thoughts: (1) When we pray, let us pray expectantly! (2) When we pray let us be open and ready for the Lord to act in the way *He* would answer that prayer! And (3) praise the Lord that He is willing to answer prayers even when we are slow to see His answers!
• But let us fast-forwad to the end of the chapter.

Part 3: Herod Had Guts

• While we see Herod set against the kingdom of the Lord in the beginning of the chapter, and some of his schemes had succeeded, his days were numbered. Herod had stood against the Lord in two ways: (1) he killed God’s people, and (2) people claimed at a speech he had given that they were hearing the voice of a god and not a man – and he failed to give God the glory (12:23).
• We then see the Lord thwarts Herod’s rebellion in 2 ways: (1) He miraculously delivers Peter by the hand of an angel and (2) He struck Herod down by an angel. And more explicitly, “he was eaten by worms and he breathed his last” (12:23).
• In this account, we see played out in dramatic fashion a picture of (a) God’s sovereign intervention over rulers and (b) the justice to be brought upon those who have stood against the Lord. 
  • Consider the words of the prophet Daniel in 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and set up kings” – “the Most High rules the kingdoms of men and gives it to whom he will” (4:17) – “all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “what have you done?” (4:35)
    • There are times that God installs or removes leaders and does so for His purposes, which at times we do not understand. He allows evil and wicked things that He hates – and yet those things are able to accomplish the GOOD which He has purposed! 
    • So it was in the life of Joseph – he tells his brothers, who had sold him into slavery, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).
  • And, like many in the history of the church, the believers in the days of Herod could see that God’s justice would be satisfied — whether in this life or in the final judgment! Herod’s demise is a foreshadowing of what the prophet Isaiah foretells of the final judgement against those who rebelled against Him — “their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched” (Isaiah 66:24).

Conclusion & Application:

• So my friend, as we conclude, I would like you to consider these things: (1) how can your prayer life grow in light of what we saw in this chapter? (2) How can you begin trusting our Sovereign God where you are now and in whatever circumstances you are in now? And (3) how does the reality of God’s coming justice (though it may be distant) help you endure today’s troubles?
• It is amazing that in the face of all these things, “the Word of God increased and multiplied” (Acts 12:24)  

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“12 Things God Can’t Do: …and How They Can Help You Sleep at Night” by Nick Tucker (https://amzn.to/3yLLIdT) 

“ESV Study Bible” (https://amzn.to/3azWAlJ)

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