Acts Chapter 12
As the church grew in great numbers with many people being added daily, the enemy sought to destroy the church. This chapter records the martyr of James the brother of John. We don’t know for sure, but James was most likely beheaded. Jesus had warned that their dedication to Him would cost them their very lives, but this was the first apostle to be killed, and it must have caused the church great concern.
Herod was a power thirsty man who saw that the act of murder pleased the Jews, so he was going to do the same to another apostle of Jesus. Herod arrested Peter and had every intention of killing him as well. Herod made sure that Peter was well guarded, intending to bring him out for a public execution, most likely when there was a big crowd, because he sought the accolades of the people.
Let's Reflect
1. It seems that Herod was not taking any chances with Peter escaping from prison. He made sure that he was heavily guarded. What does it say about the number of men who guarded Peter?
2. What was the church doing while Peter was in prison?
3. An angel came to break Peter out of prison, what was Peter doing when the angel arrived?
4. Peter quietly obeys the directives of the angel but being woken from a dead sleep he is not really fully awake. What does he think is going on?
5. Besides getting past the guards unnoticed what other physical things did Peter need to get past to escape?
6. The question may have entered your mind, why was James martyred and Peter was rescued. The answer is we don’t know. There are some tough things that we do not understand this side of heaven, but we know that God’s purpose prevails and for sure James was happy to find himself now walking with his Savior. Peter would knock on the door of the house of Mary. Was he immediately let in?
7. When they saw Peter they were astonished, I would have been astonished too! Peter motioned for them to keep the noise of their rejoicing down, but he shared how it was that he came to be free. Peter then instructed them to go and tell his story to James (the brother of Jesus not the James just martyred) and to whom?
8. What happened to the guards in the prison when Herod found out that Peter had escaped?
9. Herod later gave this great speech and someone in the crowd sang his praises, calling him god and Herod did not deny it. What happened to Herod?
10. Satan had tried to destroy the church through Herod, but God stepped in. What does the Bible say about the growth of the church with Herod gone?
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