Introduction:
A. You have probably heard the glib saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
1. Although it is true that suffering can lead to blessing, it is easier to say it than experience it.
B. One day a young man who sold magazine subscriptions door to door, came home with $25 which he earned that day by selling magazine subscriptions.
1. His father asked him, “How many sales did it take for you to make $25?”
2. “Just one,” the boy replied, “I sold all the subscriptions to one man.”
3. “Really,” his father asked, “why did one man buy so many magazine subscriptions?”
4. “The man’s dog bit me!” answered the boy.
C. That’s a cute story about what we might call minor suffering, but what happens when you or I face major suffering?
1. A man named Howard Rutledge was shot down on a bombing run during the Vietnam War and he suffered for more than seven years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp.
2. In his book In the Presence of Mine Enemies, he recounts many episodes of intense physical and emotional pain and suffering.
3. When asked how he endured the suffering he said, “I was able to sustain life and hope through the faith I have in God.”
D. How can we, like Howard Rutledge maintain our faith when we face such dire circumstances?
1. It’s one thing to say we got through it by faith, when the suffering is over and done, but what about when the suffering continues with no end in sight, or when it leads to death?
2. How do those kinds of circumstances stress our faith, and threaten to erode the foundation of our faith?
E. I want us to have these kinds of questions in mind as we return again to our series on the life of Peter, and as we look at Peter’s experience in Acts 12.
1. Here we find Peter in prison for the third time.
2. Here we see that he was awaiting trial and certain death.
3. Years later, when Peter wrote his first letter, he may have had the miraculous experiences of Acts 12 in mind when he quoted Psalm 34:15-16, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Pt 3:12).
4. That quotation adequately summarizes what God did for Peter, and it reveals to us three wonderful assurances that can help us and encourage us in the difficult days of our lives.
5. Let’s examine these three wonderful assurances.
I. Assurance #1: God Sees Our Trials (Acts 12:1-4)
A. Let’s pick up the story in Acts 12:1-4: 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, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
1. This episode reminds us that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.” (1 Pt 3:12)
2. God watched and noted what Herod Agrippa I was doing to His people.
3. This evil man was the grandson of Herod the Great, who ordered the Bethlehem children to be murdered, and he was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded.
4. The family of the Herods were a scheming and murderous lot, and they were despised by the Jews who resented having Edomites ruling over them.
5. For that reason, Herod tried to score points with the Jews by persecuting the church that was also despised by the Jews, especially now that the church was welcoming Gentiles.
B. Herod had several believers arrested, among them was James, the brother of John, whom he beheaded.
1. James, therefore, became the first apostle to be martyred.
2. His death takes on special significance when you ponder the episode in Matthew 20 when James and John along with their mother requested special places in Jesus’ kingdom.
3. Jesus made it clear that there can be no glory apart from suffering and that the two of them would drink from the cup of suffering that Jesus would drink.
4. So, James was arrested and killed, and John later became an exile on the Isle of Patmos.
5. James was the first apostle to die and John was the last.
C. Now, if it pleased the Jews when James was killed, just think how delighted they would be if Peter was executed!
1. Herod arrested Peter and placed him under heavy guard in prison.
2. There were sixteen soldiers guarding the apostle. Four soldiers for each watch.
a. One chained on each side and two watching the doors.
3. You might ask, “why was Herod making Peter so secure? Was he that dangerous a criminal?”
4. Well, if you remember, last time Peter was jailed, back in Acts 5, he mysteriously escaped, so Herod was not about to let that happen again.
D. Nevertheless, in the cases of both men, Peter and James, God saw their trials.
1. God is always aware of our sufferings, and that should bring us comfort.
2. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,” but it does not stop there, “and His ears are attentive to their prayers.”
3. Which leads to our second assurance.
II. Assurance #2: God Hears Our Prayers (Acts 12:5-17)
A. The story continues in verse 5: 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. (Acts 12:5-17)
1. We are reminded here that the Lord’s “ears are attentive to the prayers of the righteous.”
2. Verse five is the turning point in the story: “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
a. That is certainly an important “but”! - We must never underestimate the power of a praying church! Amen?
3. Someone said, “The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.”
4. The word Luke used for “earnest prayer” is the same word Luke used in his Gospel to describe Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane “and being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)
5. How impactful it is that Luke wants us to understand that the wrestling of the church on behalf of their beloved brother and leader can be compared to the earnest prayer with which Jesus sought His Father’s help in His own supreme time of need!
B. Back in verse 3, did you notice what part of the year it was that this episode took place?
1. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread – this was during the Passover feast.
2. About 14 years earlier, Peter had been sent with Jon to prepare the Passover feast for Jesus, and as the apostles were gathered around the table, Peter had vowed his willingness to go with Jesus even to prison.
a. Here Peter was nobly fulfilling his vow.
3. Interestingly enough, on that Passover night years ago, Peter slept there in Gethsemane, but it was a sleep of unwatchfulness, of self-confidence, and of weakness of the flesh.
a. Peter had failed to watch even for one hour with Jesus.
b. It was a sleep of the sentry at his post.
4. Now on this Passover night, Peter slept again.
a. If you were chained to two Roman soldiers and facing the possibility of being executed the next day, would you sleep very soundly? Probably not, but Peter did.
b. Peter was so sound asleep that the angel had to strike him in the side to wake him up.
5. The fact that Peter had been a prisoner twice before was not what gave him his calm heart.
a. This prison experience was different from the other two.
b. This time he was alone as a prisoner.
c. This time he was not released immediately.
d. This time there was no special witnessing opportunity, except to the guards.
e. This time he was arrested by the guy who had killed James, his dear friend and colleague.
f. No, this was a new situation.
6. So, what was it that gave him such confidence and peace?
a. To begin with, the church was praying for him, and no doubt had been for a whole week.
b. But there was also a personal prophesy from Jesus that Peter must have remembered.
c. Do you remember at the end of the gospel of John, 21:18-19? There Jesus talked of Peter being an old man and being led to a place he did not want to go. Indicating the kind of death that would glorify God, which tradition tells us was by crucifixion.
d. At this point in his life, Peter probably did not consider himself and old man. (But then again, none of us consider ourselves old, do we?)
7. I believe that for Peter this was the sleep of absolute confidence in the grace and power of God, who would yet deliver him if it were His will, but if not, then he trusted that God would enable him to be faithful unto death.
C. But as we see in the story, this wasn’t Peter’s time to die, so God sent an angel who brought light and liberty to the prison cell.
1. The chains miraculously fell from Peter’s wrists, and the gates opened by themselves allowing Peter to follow the angel to freedom.
2. After the angel vanished, Peter came to himself and realized this was not a dream.
3. Peter’s first thought was to go to Mary’s house, for he knew the Christians had gathered there to pray for him.
a. Mary was the sister of Barnabas, and the mother of John Mark.
b. The last verse of this chapter indicates that Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem at that time.
c. They had likely come to Jerusalem for the Passover, and probably were at that house praying for Peter that night.
4. The scene that happened here is comical when you think about it: There were many people praying, they were praying earnestly, they prayed night and day perhaps for as long as a week, and their prayers centered on Peter’s deliverance, yet when they were told Peter was at the door they called the girl crazy – that’s pretty funny, don’ t you think?
a. Perhaps the hope of his deliverance even at the last minute had faded from their thoughts.
b. Perhaps they were resigning themselves to what seemed to be the Lord’s will and were asking only that Peter might be given courage to remain faithful to the end.
c. If we are honest, we must admit that even in the most fervent prayer meetings there is sometimes a spirit of doubt and unbelief in our hearts.
d. We may be like the father who cried to Jesus, “Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mk 9:24)
e. How thankful I am that God graciously honors even the weakest faith, but how much more He would do if only we would trust him more, and ask him more.
D. Apparently everybody began to speak at once and Peter had to quiet them down.
1. He quickly gave an account of the miracle of his deliverance and no doubt thanked them for their prayers.
2. He instructed them to get the word to James, the brother of the Lord, who appears to be a leader of the Jerusalem assembly.
3. We don’t know where Peter went when he left the meeting, but we assume he went into hiding to protect both himself and others, because he knew that Herod would search for him.
4. Except for a brief appearance in Acts 15, Peter walks off the pages of the Book of Acts to make room for Paul and the story of his ministry to the Gentiles.
E. But when we face tough times like Peter did, we can take comfort in the fact that God sees our trials and God hears our prayers, but there is another thing that brings assurance.
III. Assurance #3: God Deals with Our Enemies (Acts 12:18-25)
A. Let’s conclude the story with the rest of the verses from Acts 12: 18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Acts 12:18-25)
1. We are reminded here that “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Pt 3:12)
2. If the account had ended with Peter’s departure we would be left wondering what happened with Herod and the guards.
3. We do not know at what exact time the angel delivered Peter, but if Peter wasn’t missed until the day began, then perhaps his escape came between 3 AM when fresh guards came on duty, and 6 AM when they would be relieved.
4. Can you imagine the confusion when the next squadron arrived at the cell?
5. If the new watch awakened the old watch, it was certainly a rude awakening for them!
6. If a guard permitted a prisoner to escape, Roman law required that he receive the same punishment that the prisoner would have received, even if it was death.
7. This law did not strictly apply to Herod’s jurisdiction, but Herod went ahead and had the guards executed anyhow.
B. Finally, we read about how God dealt with Herod.
1. The people of Tyre and Sidon, who depended on the Jews for food, had in some way displeased King Herod, and were in danger of losing his assistance.
2. In true political fashion, they bribed Blastus, who was a trusted official of Herod, and he in turn convinced the King to meet with the delegation.
3. It was an opportunity for the proud king to display his authority, and for the delegates to please him with their flattery.
4. The Jewish historian Josephus said that this scene took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar, and that Herod wore a beautiful silver garment in honor of the occasion.
5. Luke, who demonstrates his great love for speeches by including so many of them in the book of Acts, gives us not a word of Herod’s great oration.
6. The poor people of Tyre and Sidon, under the assumption that flattery will get you everywhere, acclaim Herod as the best speaker they have ever heard. “This is the voice of a god, not a man.”
7. They played on his Herodian ego and he loved every minute of it.
8. The response of God to such presumption and idolatry on the part of the king was swift and final.
9. Josephus reports that suddenly Herod was seized with severe pain in his belly and was carried to the palace.
a. After suffering for 5 days, he died at the age of 54.
10. God certainly knows how to deal with His enemies.
a. Those who persecute God’s people will face what is coming to them sooner or later.
11. Luke summary is so encouraging: “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” (vs 24)
a. Herod was silenced, but the word of God continued to go out.
Conclusion:
A. Do you find yourself invigorated by the deliverance of Peter?
1. Are you energized by God’s affirmative answer to the churches prayer for Peter?
2. I’m sure Luke was hoping that Theophilus would have a similar reaction.
3. The story that Luke presented in Acts is a story of deliverance.
4. One wonders if Theophilus himself, or the church for which he stands representative, was under persecution or imprisonment at the time.
B. But I wonder if Luke’s gallery of pictures of miraculous deliverance might have the opposite effect.
1. Accounts of a dozen stupendous cures and miraculous answers to prayer can boomerang against an individual.
2. A person who is told by the televangelist that “if you really have faith, you will be healed” lead to despair if healing does not come.
3. The interpreter of these miraculous events must be careful to encourage confidence in a God who can do everything, but who may choose not to.
4. Yes, we must believe in an all-powerful loving God who can heal every disease and change every circumstance, but we also must understand that God doesn’t have to do it just because we ask Him to.
5. Yes, Peter escaped the long arm of Herod and was given further opportunities to preach, for a while, but James was not spared an untimely death.
a. It is a mystery as to why the Lord allowed James to be put to death, but he miraculously delivered Peter.
b. James was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples (Peter, James and John), and James was a key figure in the Jerusalem church.
c. From the human perspective, it makes no sense that the Lord would allow him to be executed.
6. Don’t you think the church prayed just as hard for James as they did for Peter?
a. I’m sure they did, but it was not God’s will.
b. The only explanation is that James had finished the work that God had prepared for him.
C. So, what am I trying to say? I am trying to say that God is in control, He is the boss, He is the Lord.
1. Yes, we must pray in faith.
a. God wants to know our wishes.
b. He waits for us to make our requests.
c. And there are even times when He changes his mind in response to our prayers.
d. So, we must pray.
2. Then we must let God be God.
a. God’s will must eventually become our will.
b. We must obey God in faith, and let God do as He wishes, for His ways are best.
3. When faced with that which is most difficult, whether economically or socially, physically or spiritually, we can take comfort in knowing that God sees our situation, hears our prayers, and in the end deals with our enemies.
4. The three Jewish young men in Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are a great example of all this.
a. When they faced the prospect of death in the blazing furnace, they said: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
b. They declared God is able, but it is His choice, and we will serve Him either way.
c. That is the way of faith, courage, and peace.
D. I hope and pray that all of us will develop that kind of relationship with God?
1. We must learn to let God be God, because God is God, and He is in control.
Resources:
The Life of Peter, F.B. Meyer, Edited by Lance Wubbels, Emerald Books, 1996
The Apostle Peter, Jerry Haughton
