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About That Time Herod the King Laid Violent Hands on Some Who Belonged to the Church

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About That Time Herod the King Laid Violent Hands on Some Who Belonged to the Church Acts 12:1-3 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. THE THREE HERODS 1. Herod the Great, King of Judea (40-4 BC). Though raised as a Jew, he was an Idumaean (i.e., an Edomite, descendant of Esau). 2. Herod Antipas, Herod’s son; ruler of Galilee and Perea (4 BC-AD 39). This is the Herod during Jesus’ earthly ministry and crucifixion. 3. Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great and nephew of Herod Antipas; king of Judea (39-44). This is the Herod of Acts 12. Acts 12:1-3 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. Acts 12:1-3 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. Acts 12:4-5 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. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:6-7 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. 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. Acts 12:8-9 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.” 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. Acts 12:10-11 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. 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.” Acts 12:18-19a Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Acts 12:19b-20 Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 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. Acts 12:21-22 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Matthew 20:24-28 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you.” Matthew 20:24-28 “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Acts 12:21-22 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 1 Peter 5:5b For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5b For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Acts 12:23-24 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. But the word of God increased and multiplied. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. Acts 12:7: 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. Acts 12:23: 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. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. Psalm 37:7-11: Fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. Psalm 37:7-11: For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! Acts 12:23-24: 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. But the word of God increased and multiplied. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! Theodore Beza: Sire, it is the peculiarity of the Church of God to endure blows, not to give them; but yet you will be pleased to remember, that the church is an anvil which has worn out many hammers. THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! Tertullian: “We are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That’s why you can’t just exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! Tertullian: “We are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That’s why you can’t just exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” THREE WAYS GOD THWARTED HEROD 1. By saving his servant Peter! 2. By striking down “King” Herod. 3. By multiplying the witness of the church! Matthew 20:22-23: Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, Philippians 1:20-21 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 1 Peter 5:5-11 Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-11 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
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