Acts 12
Acts 12 is a chapter where persecution that struck the Jerusalem church and God’s miraculous work of salvation intersect. The text is made up of scenes in which Herod Agrippa I persecutes the church’s leaders (verses 1-5), the story in which Peter is imprisoned and then rescued by the angel’s guidance (verses 6-19), and the concluding section where Herod dies and the gospel continues to expand (verses 20-25).
1verseNow about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
2verseHe killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3verseWhen he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
4verseWhen he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
5versePeter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
6verseThe same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
7verseAnd behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands.
8verseThe angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
9verseAnd he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
10verseWhen they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11verseWhen Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
12verseThinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13verseWhen Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14verseWhen she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15verseThey said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
16verseBut Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
17verseBut he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18verseNow as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
19verseWhen Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
20verseNow Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21verseOn an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22verseThe people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23verseImmediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.
24verseBut the word of God grew and multiplied.
25verseBarnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
Herod’s Persecution and the Church’s Prayer
Herod kills James, the brother of John, with the sword, and arrests Peter as well to gain favor with the Jews. Up to verse 6, it seems as though the church has no power, but at this point the community earnestly prays to God. This highlights how the church gathers strength through prayer even in the midst of persecution.
Peter’s Miraculous Rescue
From the prison that Herod guarded with strict security, an angel wakes Peter, loosens his chains, and Peter miraculously escapes the prison (verses 6-11). The church continued praying, and the believers are amazed at the scene in which Peter reaches the house of John, also called Mark, where people are gathered (verses 12-17). This shows how God’s power and the prayers of a community of faith work together.
Herod’s Death and the Expansion of the Gospel
In the latter part of Acts 12, we see that Herod dies after exalting himself in pride and receiving God’s judgment (verses 20-23). Then beginning in verse 24, it declares, “God’s word continued to spread and multiply,” showing that the gospel keeps expanding despite persecution.
Summary of the People and the Message
- Herod: He took the lead in persecuting for political purposes, but ultimately received God’s judgment
- James and Peter: One person is martyred, and one person is rescued, revealing God’s plan and sovereignty in different ways
- The faith community: In a crisis, they experience the strength of faith by praying together
Points for Reflection
- No matter how powerful human authority or persecution may be, the passage emphasizes that God’s will and work cannot be stopped.
- In the image of a community that does not give up and continues to pray even in hardship, you can think about what the essence of faith truly is.
- In the face of outcomes that martyrdom and salvation bring which cannot be explained by our own view of things, we can learn to trust in God’s sovereignty and providence.
Try Applying It to Me
- When I face difficulties or oppression right now, I reflect on what kind of seed of possibility that could become for my faith and for the community.
- I also check what it is like for me and the church to pray, and what kind of attitude I have while waiting for God’s response.
- I remember that I can live with faith that does not judge God based only on results that look visible to human eyes, and with hope that the gospel continues in every situation.
