Just because Saul was no longer persecuting the church didn't mean that there was no opposition. The believers had grown to a large number of Christians in many different cities and now the Gentile heathens were beginning to stand against them.
Acts 12:1-2- Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
The twelve apostles had still been doing their job, but now they were down a man. Herod had killed James the son of Zebedee, one of the first disciples chosen by Jesus.
But, Herod was a political man, too. He wanted to rule without trouble, and when he saw that the leaders of the Jewish people were happy with the death of the apostle, he went after another one.
Acts 12:3- And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
It had been a few years since Jesus had ascended back into heaven. It was once again the passover of the Jews, and the feast that followed the week after, the feast of unleavened bread.
The Gentiles celebrated a different holiday that sometimes fell around the passover and the feast of unleavened bread- Easter. Herod was going to keep Peter in prison until after this Gentile feast was over, and then bring him out for trial.
It is important to understand that Passover and Easter are two different holidays.
Passover is a Jewish festival that celebrates the time that the Lord delivered the Jews from their bondage as slaves in Egypt. It is kept on or around the time that the last plague fell which killed all the firstborn of those who didn't sacrifice the lamb and place it's blood on the doorposts of their homes. After the passover there are seven days where the Jews eat unleavened bread. And this is what the Jews were celebrating when Peter was imprisoned.
Easter is a pagan celebration that was part of idol worship for the false goddess Ishtar. The Gentiles who worshipped this false goddess had many things that they used during their celebration like bunnies, eggs, and baskets of treats (usually bread-like buns).
Because Herod was a Gentile who worshiped idols, you can understand that he was partaking in the celebration of Easter and that is why he waited to prosecute Peter until that holiday was ended.
Acts 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.
Herod had seen the apostles do some amazing things! So, to safeguard his prisoner he had sixteen soldiers present to make sure that nothing happened.
Acts 12:5- Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
God can do anything! It doesn't matter that people think it's impossible. It doesn't matter what facts or statistics state is improbable. If God wants it to happen, no one and nothing will stop it!
And, when we pray for God to do something, He is working on it.
Acts 12:6-8- 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. 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. 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.
While Peter was locked up tight, and angel came into the prison and instituted a jail break!
Acts 12:9-11- 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. 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. 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.
Peter had seen so many visions that sometimes he didn't realize what was a vision and what was reality. As the angel led Peter past the guards, he thought he was seeing a vision. But, when the angel left him on the outside of the prison walls, he realized that the escape was actually happening.
Acts 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.
Many Christians had gathered at the house of John Mark's mom. She and the others gathered there were praying for God to deliver Peter from the fate that had befell James.
John Mark is a name that you should remember. He starts out a little rough, but as he grows in grace he becomes a mighty Christian who writes the gospel of Mark.
Acts 12:13-16- And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 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. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Have you ever prayed so hard for something that you couldn't believe when it happened?
These people had prayed so hard for Peter to be released that when they told their prayers had been answered they didn't believe it.
Finally, someone went to the door to see if it were really Peter or his spirit.
Can you image the questions and excitement that flooded the room? Peter had to calm them down just to talk to them.
Acts 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 shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Once Peter had finished his tale, he ordered that the news of this miracle be spread to the other remaining disciples.
The disciples, James, that Peter is talking about is not the one that had just been killed. This James was once called Levi, and his father was Alphaeus. He is the apostles who wrote the Book of James in the New Testament. His brother, Judas (also called Thaddaeus) was an apostle as well, and Judas wrote the Book of Jude in the Bible.
Peter went to a different place so Herod wouldn't find him and arrest him again.
Acts 12:18-19- Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 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 Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
When Herod found out that Peter had escaped, he ordered the death of the soldiers who had been on guard. This was not a surprise execution; it was the standard punishment for someone who didn't perform his duties.
If Jesus' body had actually been stolen the soldiers who had guarded his tomb would have been killed. Since they were still alive, we know that Jesus wasn't in the tomb for some amazing reason!
Acts 12:20-22- 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. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Just because someone doesn't believe in God doesn't mean that God ignores them. God will judge a man's sin whether they believe He will or not.
Acts 17:29-31- Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
God had a day in the future where He will judge every person who ever lived on the earth. He will judge every work they did and every word they said. And, when that day comes they will believe in God.
Just because Herod didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah didn't mean that he could get away with accepting worship as if he were a god.
When the people praised him, he should have said that he was no god. Because he didn't, the real Lord God Almighty sent His judgement.
Acts 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.
What a terrible way to go!
The world was going to learn that God meant what He said. They could learn about the loving Savior who died for their sins, or they could learn about the righteous God who would judge their sins.
Acts 12:24-25- But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
The apostles were doing their part in telling the world about Jesus. The Christians were doing their job in spreading the gospel. And, now, a new type of ministry was beginning. One that would take the Word of God to the uttermost parts of the earth. One that is even going on today- the ministry of a Missionary.
