Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John [the sons of Zebedee] with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. (Acts 12:1-3)
Herod was one of the most evil and ruthless rulers. He had had John the Baptist beheaded. (see THE GOSPEL: Herod, Herodias & John; Bad Choices & Results) He had also returned Jesus to Pontius Pilate to be judged, when Jesus refused to speak to him, after he had desired to meet Jesus for such a long time. (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Scourged; He Gets What We Deserve) Now he was going after the church, Christians. He killed the apostle John's brother, the apostle James. (Matthew 4:21-22) Then he went after Peter, the most outspoken of the apostles since Jesus' ascension, because he was given the charge by Christ to "...build My church...". (Matthew 16:13-20)
Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. (Acts 12:3-9)
No one can deliver us from whatever situation we are in like God! Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. (Psalm 71:4-5) When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” (Acts 12:10-11)
Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. (Hebrews 13:1-3) How applicable this scripture was to Peter's situation. Brotherly love continued, because while Peter was in jail, constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. The church remembered Peter, as if chained with him, since they themselves are in the body also. But the most astonishing thing that we probably should be used to by now, is that an angel of the Lord delivered him from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people. He unwittingly entertained an angel, and did not realize it until after the angel departed from him, and when he had come to himself.
So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. (Acts 12:12-17)
Oh, to be so excited and overwhelmed that we don't know what to do! Little Rhoda was so shocked to see Peter at the door, she didn't even open it to let him in. Sometimes that's how we feel when our prayers are answered. We just can't believe it. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!” But we can't dwell on the past, we have to keep moving forward. Peter didn't even stay with them long enough for them to talk in detail or ask questions. He told them what happened and then departed and went to another place. But first he instructs the group to “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” This James is Jesus' brother, one of Mary's sons. (Mark 6:3)
But why was Peter being so secretive? Because of Herod. Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:18-24)
We better be very careful that we don't play with God or try to act like God. But we are to be even more careful that we never treat another human being as a god! And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, ... “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,... (Exodus 20:1-5) Herod played long enough, for many years, but God always has the final word! “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 37:23) Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you. (Isaiah 14:11) For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation.” (Isaiah 51:8) AMEN!
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