Peter vs. Herod

Acts 12:1-24 

Good morning! We’re going to go through almost all of chapter 12 in Acts today. There’s one verse at the end of the chapter which connects better with chapter 13, so it will be a part of next week’s passage.

 

In the previous two and half chapters following the conversion of Saul, the church has experienced a time of peace. Acts 9:30 says that the Holy Spirit strengthened and encouraged the church and that it grew in numbers during this time.

 

Today, we will see that opposition will arise again. The chapter opens with a terrible and shocking event, the martyrdom of one of the twelve disciples. James, the son of Zebedee, the brother of John, will be executed by Herod.

 

James is not the first martyr. Chapter 7 tells how Stephen confronted the Sanhedrin and was stoned. And while we don’t have a record of more, it is quite possible that others died for their faith in the time following Stephen’s death. The persecution of believers has followed the church wherever it has gone and wherever it has grown.

 

At the same time, James has a unique role, a unique position. I pulled this event into the introduction because it’s going to be easy to fly past it and lose the magnitude of what is going to happen. This is the James whom Jesus called from his nets as a fisherman. This James walked with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. He was at the transfiguration. Together with only Peter and John, he saw the resurrection of the little girl. Jesus had called Peter, James and John to come and pray with Him in the garden before His arrest and crucifixion.

 

James’ death shatters any illusion that the twelve enjoyed some special protection. I don’t think we can answer the question of why James or why at this moment. Only God knows this. We can say that Jesus didn’t tell His disciples that there was any such special protection.

 

Specifically, when James and John asked Jesus if they could sit at His right and left in glory, Jesus told them that they didn’t understand what they were asking. He then asked if they could drink from the cup He would drink, to which they both said, “We can.” Jesus then said that they would.

 

Jesus said on multiple occasions that persecution would follow them all. (See Matthew 10:16-26.) John 16:33 is a familiar and clear statement from Jesus about all sorts of difficulties:

 

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

 

James’ death is tragic, but keep in mind that he has eternal life. As Paul would later write, “…To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). James, just like anyone who dies in the Lord, has gained even in death because Jesus has overcome death for everyone who believes in Him.

 

Let’s pray and go ahead with Acts chapter 12.

 

Father God, teach us today from Your Word. Help us to have a right understanding of difficulty and even suffering. I pray for deliverance for Your people who are facing persecution, uncertainty and death. I also pray for hope and endurance in the midst of those circumstances when it is not Your will to remove them. In all situations, we look to You, Jesus. Amen.

 

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. – Acts 12:1-2

 

We’ve talked a good bit about James. The only point I will add is that James’ death occurred 10 years after the resurrection. Now, let me say a few things about Herod.

 

Whenever you see the name Herod, you have to ask, “Which Herod?” In this case, it was Herod Agrippa. Herod Agrippa I (the first) was the grandson of Herod the Great and nephew of Herod Antipas, who had beheaded John the Baptist and had tried Jesus. Antipas had been exiled in a stunning back-and-forth series of betrayals by Agrippa and Antipas against one another. Agrippa received Antipas’ tetrarchy and those of Philip and Lysanias such that Judea and Samaria were united under the rule of Herod Agrippa in a period of 4-5 years (37-41 BC).

 

I don’t want to go into great detail about the Herod dynasty other than to say it is disturbingly messed up. This graphic gives you only a slight idea of how bad it was: Herod the Great and the Herodian Family Tree - Biblical Archaeology Society.

 

There is some similarity to how James was put to death and John the Baptist was put to death. They were both in prison, but then from one day to the next, they were executed by the sword.

 

When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

 

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. – Acts 2:3-5

 

This time the persecution has arisen from the political leader rather than from the Jewish religious leaders. There is definitely a populist vibe in Herod’s decision making. He saw that the Jews approved, so he decided to go after Peter.

 

There is a significant guard placed over Peter. Sixteen soldiers to guard one guy who is locked up in a prison cell. What did Herod think might happen? Of course, the apostles had already been arrested once and then mysteriously escaped the Jews (that is, they were released from the jail by an angel) in Acts 5.

 

Herod Agrippa’s plan for Peter was centered on the Passover, but it was a bit different than what was carried out against Jesus. Herod was waiting to hold the trial after the Passover, which would be after the crowds went home. He also likely wanted the people’s full attention in order to improve their support of him.

 

The believers knew the situation was serious, and they were praying. It says they were praying earnestly. That word only appears a couple of times in Scripture. The second time is in I Peter, when Peter writes that we should love each other earnestly, fervently, deeply. I think the believers were praying for Peter in deep and sincere love. And no matter how many guards or gates there might be, we can always pray.

 

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

 

Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. – Acts 12:6-9

 

This situation is deadly serious, and yet there is humor in the passage, too. Peter is sleeping between two soldiers. He’s bound with two chains. At the same time, he’s in his PJs or whatever their equivalent was because the angel tells him specifically how to get dressed. Then, why did the angel have to strike Peter? Maybe Peter really was that deeply asleep?

 

Peter did as the angel had told him. All the while, he’s thinking, “There’s no way this is really happening. It has to be a vision.” But it was real, and Peter walked out of his cell from between the two guards with him and then past the sentries standing guard at the entrance.

 

They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

 

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” – Acts 12:10-11

 

They passed two different groups of guards. I don’t think they were sleeping; at least, it doesn’t say that they were. I think they must have been invisible. I mean, the gate opens by itself, so what’s a little invisibility on top of what else has happened? Finally now, a block or two away from the prison, Peter realizes that this is really happening.

 

Peter has a pretty complex thought. He’s rescued from Herod’s clutches, the political schemer, and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen, their desire to disgrace Peter and destroy the church.

 

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"

 

"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

 

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. – Acts 12:12-16

 

This Mark or John Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark. So, an interesting connection here between Peter and Mark. His family’s house is where Peter decided to go first.

 

And yes, some more fun here. Before we are too hard on poor Rhoda, remember that Peter didn’t think his escape was real until well after he had gotten out of the prison. Sometimes, we can get so excited by good news that we forget what to do. Likewise, we should be compassionate toward the believers who are praying, as they are no doubt afraid. Herod hadn’t just arrested James and Peter. Verse 1 said that some in the church had been arrested. I’m sure they feel at risk, too.

 

Still, I think Luke did include the detail of the story because it is funny and that’s how it really happened. Even after Rhoda tells everyone, they don’t hop up to go see if Peter is there. It’s like they’re too busy praying for Peter. “Rhoda, can’t you see we’re busy praying here.” Even when she persists in telling them that Peter is really there, they figure it must be his angel. The prayers were in earnest (verse 5), but their faith was not great

 

After reading these verses, I was thinking the message title could be “Keep Knocking.” Peter doesn’t go away. He keeps knocking until they open the door. It’s an illustration of Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). The verbs in that verse are in the active 2^nd person imperative: keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking, because “everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:8).

 

Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this," he said, and then he left for another place. – Acts 12:17

 

Now that they’re at the door, and they recognize that Peter is really there, there’s a celebration. So, Peter ends up being the one trying to settle them down. He gives them the good news and then encourages them to share it.

 

Most likely the James whom Peter mentions is the brother of Jesus. He became a key leader in the early church and is the author of the book of James. Peter disappears into the night. In Matthew 10, Jesus told the twelve that when they were persecuted in one place, they should flee to another (verse 23).

 

Now, the consequences of Peter’s escape:

 

In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

 

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. – Acts 12:18-19

 

The soldiers recognize the severity of the situation that they are in. What a disaster! Herod made the cross-examination himself. Not surprisingly, the guards are faced with capital charges. This was the normal course when a soldier or guard lost a prisoner, and none of the Herods were known for having compassion.

 

We don’t know with certainty why Herod left for Caesarea (a port city on the Mediterranean well north of Jerusalem but not quite as far as the Sea of Galilee). As we will see in the next verses, he had business in that region. At the same time, it seems that Herod has lost interest in his attack on the church. If only Herod had been willing to humble himself at this point, perhaps things would have turned out differently for him.

 

He [Herod] had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply.

 

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. – Acts 12:20-23

 

Well, Herod pretty much quarreled with anyone who didn’t agree with him, particularly when he was in a more powerful position. It’s interesting that Luke includes a bit of the political maneuvering here. The people of Tyre and Sidon sought an ally within Herod’s court. Throughout antiquity, the region of Israel and Judea was known as an exporter of food to their neighbors, particularly olive oil, wine, and grains.

 

Tyre and Sidon were mainly trading towns of the ancient Phoenicians. According to the distribution of land in the book of Joshua, the area of Tyre and Sidon should have been occupied by the tribe of Asher. The land away from the coast of the Mediterranean near Tyre and Sidon is quite mountainous. It’s where the cedars of Lebanon come from. It’s not where you can grow enough grain to support a sizeable population.

 

Herod’s end is also recorded by Flavius Josephus. He wrote:

 

Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Caesarea [...] [T]here he exhibited shows in honor of the emperor [….] On the second day of the festival, Herod put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a truly wonderful contexture, and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment was illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it. It shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him. At that moment, his flatterers cried out [...] that he was a god; and they added, "Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature."

 

Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But as he presently afterward looked up, […] he fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. […]

 

Accordingly, he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad that he would certainly die in a little time. […] And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign. [Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 19.343-350.]

 

Herod wasn’t condemned until he took the praise that should have been directed toward God upon himself. Due to the extended relationship between the Herod dynasty and the Jews, Herod ought to have known better than to think that God would ignore such a blatant act of blasphemy, especially after what had happened with Peter.

 

And yet, I think Herod missed it completely. He probably didn’t think that Peter had been helped by God. He thought that the guards were incompetent or that Peter had some other kind of help. Maybe he didn’t think about it much at all and had thoughts only for himself.

 

I said earlier that the message could be titled “Keep Knocking.” Another title could have been “Herod vs God.” “Herod vs Peter” is what Herod thought. Herod was this powerful king with the favor of the Roman imperial family, particularly the emperor Caligula. How could Peter, the backwater fisherman from Galilee, stand against Herod, the king of all the territory of ancient Israel?

 

The answer is the Lord. “…If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

 

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. – Romans 8:32-34

 

And that flows into the last verse of today’s passage from Acts 12. God delivered Peter and Herod died. More importantly, God delivered His church.

 

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. – Acts 12:24

 

Let’s pray.

 

We certainly pray that You would continue to deliver Your church today. Please encourage the saints who face persecution for calling on Your Name. Rescue them from their persecutors, we pray. Thank You that You are for Your people and not against us. I pray for each one who is listening, that they would know that You are the One who justifies. We are not condemned when we belong to Jesus. Thank You for interceding for us continually. We need it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.