ACTS 12
Act 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to
vex certain of the church.
Act 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Here we see the old devil working through Herod to try to stop the preaching of
the word that would save souls from sin and grant eternal life to those that
receive the word of truth. Satan has always tried to stop what is good for all
human beings. He tries persecution usually first and then he will try to send in
false teachers to water down the gospel or cover it up entirely so that people
will be satisfied with a "religion" and not really believe to the saving of
their souls. This religion can be anything. It can even be in the name of
Christianity but without the fruits. There is only one way of salvation and it
is still the same today as it was then; repentance from sin and faith in Jesus
Christ to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Old things pass away and all
become new. We stop serving sin and the world and we start serving Jesus Christ.
We are actually born again by the spirit of God.
We read first of Stephen being stoned to death by those who rejected his message
of Jesus Christ and the resurrection from the dead. We saw that Saul consented
and agreed to the death of Stephen. We saw Stephen cry out to God not to lay the
sin to the charge of those that were killing him. We saw that Saul was later
converted and became the apostle Paul. Now we see the brother of John the
apostle being killed by the sword of Herod. He probably didn't do the actual
killing but ordered it done and was just as guilty of his death, even more so
than the one doing the actual killing.
Act 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take
Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
When we read of the Jews being pleased with the death of James let us remember
that it didn't mean all Jews living at that time. It was mostly the Jewish
leaders or religious Jews that rejected Jesus Christ. We must remember that the
apostles were Jews, most of the followers of Jesus at this time were Jews and
Jesus Himself was a Jew. We must avoid using these scriptures to ever justify
anti-Semitism.
After the killing of James were the days of Jewish holidays of unleavened bread.
We can research those in the Old Testament if we want to look them up in the law
given by Moses or the Torah.
Act 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered
him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring
him forth to the people.
Easter should have been translated Passover which would have been a festival of
unleavened bread remembering the time when the Jews were delivered out of Egypt.
Actually Easter itself is pagan festival observed long before Christ. It is
derived from a Babylonian title of Ishtar, the queen of heaven. There is
reference to this queen of heaven abomination in Jeremiah 7 and chapter 44.
Our devoted, wonderful translators of the bible did a great job but they did
make a few errors in translation but it doesn't change the truth of the
scriptures. I believe wholeheartedly that the bible is the inspired word of God
in its original form. We are human and we make mistakes. We are lucky to have
the pure word of God that we have today. My favorite version is the King James
version. There are other translations that got the Passover part correct but
they err in other things. I believe that most of them try to get it right but
there are a few modern translations that are really moving away from the desire
to be accurate. They are changing a little too much and it is getting scary. We
must use discernment and lots of prayer before buying new translations. Still I
haven't found any to beat the King James for accuracy. I'm so use to it, it is
hard for me to understand the others and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can
understand the King James version. Even though I prefer it, I will not condemn
or bad mouth those that use other versions. There may be others that are
good but there are many that are a shame to be in any bookstore.
Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without
ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Act 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the
door kept the prison.
Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in
the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up
quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Act 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And
so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Act 12:9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which
was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
Poor Peter was so bewildered at this that he thought he was dreaming or in a
vision. God is answering the prayer of people praying fervently in the same mind
and one accord. This type of prayer gets answered. God wants us to love one
another and agree in prayer. This is my opinion and the reader can disregard it
if necessary but I believe that when a group of people agree on one thing is is
probably in the will of God so it can be answered. If one disagrees then maybe
what is prayed for might not be the will of God. Instead of quickly calling the
dissenter a doubter, we need to talk it out and find out what makes him or her
disagree. We need to seek the will of God when we pray and then agree with the
same mind and one accord.
Act 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto
the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own
accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the
angel departed from him.
I notice that God's angels only come and stay around when needed. The minute we
are safe and can make it on our own with the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us,
the angel departs.
Act 12:11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a
surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand
of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Some times things happen so fast that we really do not realize what is happening
until the hour is past. Perhaps this is because we might in the flesh hinder the
working of God by our own actions.
Act 12:12 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
praying.
Act 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to
hearken, named Rhoda.
Act 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness,
but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
Act 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that
it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
Remember before we criticize these people for unbelief even though they were
praying fervently for this very thing to occur, that they had just been grieving
at the death of James from this same king. They surely though Peter would suffer
the same fate.
Act 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door,
and saw him, they were astonished.
Act 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace,
declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said,
Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went
into another place.
This was referring to another James who was a natural brother of the Lord Jesus.
He was the head of the church at Jerusalem. Peter was never the head of the
church as some suppose. "Upon this rock" when taken with other scriptures that
refer to Jesus as the rock or cornerstone shows us that Jesus was referring to
Himself as the rock upon which the church is built.
Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the
soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Act 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the
keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from
Judea to Caesarea, and there abode.
I have noticed the difference here between Peter's escape from prison the the
apostle Paul's. Paul must have been a wonderful person after his conversion for
he refused to leave the prison even though an angel freed him and made it
possible. He stayed so that the guards could not be put to death. He was not
concerned with escaping himself but saving the lives and souls of the prison
guards.
I don't say this to criticize Peter because Peter was in a daze and didn't
really know what was happening. He probably didn't realize anyone would be put
to death if he escaped.
Act 12:20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but
they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's
chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by
the king's country.
Act 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his
throne, and made an oration unto them.
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not
of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not
God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
We see here the law of reaping and sowing. Herod could have believed and saved
his own soul but instead he continued to try to put to death the servants of
God. In the end when he sought to exalt himself as being equal to God, he was
killed by an angel of the Lord. We will never get away with harming those that
belong to the Lord whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Unless we repent, we will
perish. Repentance and turning to Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid the
wrath of God for sin.
Act 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Act 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled
their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Now we return to the accounts of the deeds of Barnabas and Saul. At some
point, Saul's name was changed to Paul but both are one of the same. This same
John Mark is later one which causes a dispute between Barnabus and Paul. So we
see that Christians can disagree and make mistakes. It wasn't a sin to disagree
over Mark but one was right and the other was wrong.
