ACTS LESSON 25

    We will begin this lesson in Acts 12:1 "Now about that time Herod
the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church."
Acts 12:2 "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."

    We see, here, that the opposition to the church has gone violent.
About that time means about the time Saul and Barnabas were preaching
together, and about the time the followers of Jesus became to be
called Christians. This Herod is Herod Agrippa, probably.  He ruled
over Judaea and Samaria at the time this happened. This James, brother
of John, was a son of Zebedee and was known along with his brother as
sons of thunder.  He is not to be confused with the James (half
brother of Jesus) who wrote the Book of James.  Jesus had predicted
that James would die a violent death for the gospel.  History (not
Bible) says that James and his accuser were beheaded together.

    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.)"

    This Herod really liked the Jews.  He wanted very much to please
them.  Their greatest ambition at this time was to stamp out
Christianity any way they could.  Peter, James, and John had been very
close to the Lord and were doing a lot to further Christianity.  The
Jews felt, if they could get rid of them, they could possibly stamp
out this movement.  This happened very close to Passover, because
Passover and Unleavened Bread are just about the same time.  In fact
they overlap.  Unleavened Bread Feast lasted from the 14th of Nisan,
or Abib, through the 21st.  Passover was on the 14th.  Abib or Nisan
is approximately our April.  It fluctuates on our calendar (which is
different to the Jewish calendar), because they count a month on the
change of the moon.

    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."

    Apprehended means seize or officially arrest.  A quaternion is
four soldiers, or a squad.  This just means that they had 16 soldiers
constantly watching Peter to keep him from escaping.  Herod did not
want another happening like Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection to
happen, so he purposely does nothing about Peter until after Easter.
The Strong's Concordance gives Easter as meaning Passover.

    Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made
without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

    This means that twenty-four hours a day someone in the group of
disciples was praying for the release of Peter unharmed.  Herod did
not want to bring this to a head during Passover, so he just kept
Peter in jail under heavy guard until this time passed.

    Acts 12:6 "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."

    They were treating Peter as if he were a hardened criminal.  They
not only had his hands in chains, but had two soldiers, one on each
side to even sleep next to him to keep him from escaping.  These two
soldiers were probably chained to Peter, but the Scripture does not
say. This was not even enough restraints, so they positioned soldiers
at the door to watch, as well.  It is just like the Lord to wait until
just before Peter was to be brought before Herod for sentencing to
save him.

    Acts 12:7 "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."

    This angel of the Lord had been close to the Lord Jesus, because
of the light that shined around him and in the prison.  Jesus is the
Light.  This was a light, so this was probably an angel whom Jesus had
given this power to, to help Peter. The chains fell from Peter's
hands, but did not awaken the soldiers, because they probably still
had chains attached to their hands. This smote Peter on the side just
means that he quietly awakened Peter and gave him these instructions.
Peter would know that this angel was sent of God and not Herod,
because of the light and the miracle of the chains falling off.

    Acts 12:8 "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."

    This angel is telling Peter that he has time to put on his sandals
and outer coat and get ready to leave this prison.  The guards are as
if they are in a deep sleep.  The angel will lead the way and open any
and all closed doors.  Any opposition to Peter leaving the prison
would be taken care of by this angel.

    Acts 12:9 "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."

    Peter really believed that he was dreaming, or had a vision, and
had no idea that this angel was really releasing him from this prison.
God cares for his own.  When there seems no way out of a problem, God
makes a way for us.

    Acts 12:10 "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."

    This ward here is the prison guard.  It is as if everyone in this
prison is in a state of deep sleep.  These guards do not even notice
as they pass by. This angel has the power of God operating in him so
strongly that the door opens automatically and lets them pass.  We see
in this, that where God sends us, God opens the way for us.  After
Peter is safely out of prison and away from the prison, the angel
leaves him to make his own way.  Always, when we work for Jesus, He
walks with us and leads us until we are established to walk on our
own.  We ourselves must not start on a road that the Lord has not
opened to us. The Lord heads us out in the direction we should go.
Our job is to continue on that path to our destination.

    Acts 12:11 "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."

    Herod had done this terrible thing just to please these Jews.  You
see, Peter had not committed a crime.  We see here the ruling power
not judging justly, but to please some of his people.  A ruler should
always be above this sort of thing.  He should judge justly.  Peter
realizes suddenly, that this is not a dream at all, but that the Lord
has sent His angel and freed him from prison.  We see in this, that
those whom the Lord send's cannot be stopped by government officials,
nor can they be stopped just because they are imprisoned.  God's truth
will go forth.  No force on earth can stop it.

    We must remember in this, that the other apostles and followers of
Jesus have been praying for the release of Peter.  The prayers of the
Saints do not go unnoticed.  The Lord knew when Peter was imprisoned
and, also, knew how his release would build up the faith of all the
followers of Jesus.

                                 Notes

























                          Acts 25 Questions


1.  What king stretched forth his hand to vex the Christians?
2.  What did he do to James the brother of John?
3.  Which Herod is this?
4.  Where did he rule?
5.  What does history teach about James' death?
6.  Why did Herod seize Peter?
7.  What Jewish feast was going on at this time?
8.  What was the Jews' greatest ambition at this time?
9.  What month did Feast of Passover occur?
10. What month did Feast of Unleavened Bread occur?
11. How do the Jews note a passing month?
12. How many soldiers were to guard Peter?
13. What is a quarternion?
14. When did Herod plan to bring Peter before the people?
15. Who prayed for Peter?
16. How fervent was the prayer?
17. In verse 6, how did they secure Peter so he would not escape?
18. How were the soldiers treating Peter?
19. What two things happened to Peter in the prison that were
    definitely of God?
20. When the angel smote Peter, what happened?
21. Why would Peter know this angel was from God?
22. In verse 8, what did the angel tell Peter to do?
23. What did Peter think was happening?
24. What happened to the gate?
25. What did the angel do as soon as Peter was safe?
26. When Peter came to himself, what did he realize?
27. What did the Lord know from the beginning that the release of
    Peter would do?

                                 Notes