What can we learn from the 3 characters in Acts 12:1-17, 19?
(the 3 characters, Herod, the angel, and Peter).
Acts 12:1 - 17
ESV - 1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
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Asked January 10 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
God can communicate with His followers and intervene on their behalf in unexpected and even seemingly impossible ways, as He did in sending an angel to free Peter from prison, where he was chained and under heavy guard (and which was so miraculous that Peter himself thought that he was dreaming); and by Peter's subsequent appearance to the praying believers at Mary's house. (Despite the faith shown by their fervent prayer, they still did not believe that the very thing for which they had been praying could actually have happened (Acts 12:15).) This also shows that fervent prayer and putting God first can in fact change the world, and that we as believers should recognize God's working and glorify Him for it when it occurs. Also, we can either glorify ourselves (as Herod did), something else (as the people who called Herod a god did), or God (the purpose for which He created us (Isaiah 43:7)). If we substitute something else for God, then He might find a way to communicate with us that we do not have our priorities straight (as He did for both Herod and the sycophantic listeners who glorified Herod as a god through what happened to him, when he was struck down by an angel and died a particularly loathsome type of death (Acts 12:23)).
Jack Gutknecht
Herod Kills James and Imprisons Peter 12 Now at that time, HEROD the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm them. (I.e, HEROD stretches out his hand and slays James)-- 2 So he executed James the brother of John with a sword. 19 And when HEROD had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. (The Lexham English Bible (Ac 12:1). --(LEB) --I.e. he sentences his soldiers to death! Just because they let Peter escape! THE ANGEL first shines a light in the prison, smites Peter in the side to awaken him (this angel is God's messenger) in vv. 7 and 8. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near him, and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter’s side, he woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And his chains fell off of his hands. [Then THE ANGEL speaks to Peter] 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals!” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!” The Lexham English Bible (Ac 12:7–8). And thirdly, PETER, who was a prisoner (Acts 12:4 -- 4 After he [HEROD] had arrested him, he also put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.... was prayed for as the servant of the Lord (v. 5 -- 5 Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him. And he was preserved! See Acts 12:19 -- 19 And when Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there." -- See Mr. Maas for a further explanation of what happened to HEROD.
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