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Acts 12: The Power of Prayer and Trust in God's Plan
September 5, 2025 · 15 min
Explore Acts 12 and how Peter's faith and the church's prayers paved the way for deliverance.
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Faith Amid Persecution: Lessons from Acts 12 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to stand on the word, acts chapter 12 today as our journey along the path of the early church continues. We're gonna explore the question, why does God allow some of his people0:22 to be martyred? Verse 5 chapter 12. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. The church now is over a decade0:33 old. The church is growing, and the gospel message is spreading. Several of the persecution from the religious realm began to abate after that initial0:45 wave of persecution caused many of those believers in Jerusalem to be dispersed. Now there's another wave of persecution arising, but this time it's coming from the0:57 realm of government. Right? Herod Agrippa, who was the grandson of Herod the great, was ruler over both Judea and Galilee. Agrippa, who the just,1:09 the Jewish historian Josephus said was zealous for the Mosaic rites, was an apparent proselyte to the Jewish religion. Now Agrippa, as we read here in this chapter,1:21 imprisons and then murders James, the brother of John, 1 of the 3 members of Jesus's inner circle. He was the first of the 12 to be martyred. Verse1:33 1. Now about that time, Herod, the king, stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw that1:45 it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. Now Herod was like too many political1:57 leaders setting his course based upon public opinion rather than true north. Okay? Verse 4. Public opinion rather than true north. Okay? Verse 4. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to 42:07 squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was not over. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was2:16 offered to God for him by the church. Now here's just a couple of observations. Look at the intense security around Peter. Alright? 4 squads of 16 soldiers on rotating 62:27 hour watches. There were 2 at his sides. Guards at the cell, guards outside as we're gonna read here in just a moment. Now the intentions of Herod seem to be clear. Peter was next. He2:39 killed James. Peter was next. He was on deck. So what was Peter doing? Right? Peter knew what was happening. He wasn't he wasn't surprised by this. What was he doing? He was sleeping. Right? This2:51 is where we what we read here. He was sleeping. Like Jesus, you remember this when Jesus was in the boat 15 years earlier as the disciples thought they were going to sink? What was Jesus doing? He was fast asleep. Why?3:04 Because he knew that God had a plan, and his plan would be accomplished. I think Peter had come to that same place of trust in3:23 plan. He was at peace. You know, we may not know all the details of God's plan, but we can rest assured that if we're walking with the Lord and living for3:34 him, his purposes will be accomplished in your life. And I can tell you very clearly, I don't wanna live 1 day past my purpose in serving the lord. And when my mission has been3:46 complete and the lord takes me home, I'll celebrate, and I pray that all of my friends and family celebrate as well. And and we can have peace in that knowing that3:58 nothing is cut short. Nothing. The enemy will not prevail. We will triumph. So, I mean, that's that's the beauty of what Jesus called us to as disciples, to deny4:09 ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him because you can't scare a dead man. If we have died to self, we are alive to Christ. Now this doesn't4:21 mean that it's going to be easier without challenge, but Peter was content. Come what may, he knew that God's will would be done. And then what's the church4:32 doing here? They're praying. Now with the death of James, we didn't read this. It could be that they realized, because they they were kind of maybe complacent, and this is all speculation on my4:44 heart, but I we don't read that the church was gathered together praying after James was arrested, but that could have awakened the church to go into this all night prayer meeting to4:56 pray for Peter. Look at verse 6. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night, Peter was sleeping. See, he was sleeping, bound with 2 chains between 2 soldiers,5:08 and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison. And he struck Peter on the side, raised him up saying,5:20 arise quickly. I mean, he was sleeping so soundly that he had to he had to poke him in the side, and his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, gird yourself and tie on your5:32 sandals. So he did. And he said to him, put on your garment and follow me. So he went out and followed him and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. He was sleeping so5:43 soundly. Thought he was just having a dream, a vision. When they were past the first and second guard post, they came to an iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord.5:55 And they went out and went down 1 street, and immediately the angel departed from him. He was on his own. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, now. Wow. Now I know for certain that the lord has sent his angel6:07 and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the Jewish people. So Peter was thinking, well, maybe it was the prison food that had him hallucinating. But when he6:19 was able to process this surreal moment that he was experiencing, he realized he had to do something. He couldn't just keep standing there. Verse 12. So when he had considered this, when he he came to the6:31 house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. Now we've discussed Mary before, the mother of Mark, this the related to6:42 Barnabas, sister Barnabas. Mary's house was a place the disciples often gathered, so they were there praying for Peter interceding for him. And as Peter6:54 knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice because of her gladness, she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before7:06 the gate. But they said to her, you are beside yourself. You're crazy. Yet she kept insisting that it was so, so they said it is his angel. Now this is great. Alright? I love this. They7:18 were praying for Peter, and I assume they were praying that he would be released from prison and his life saved. But they didn't believe it when their prayers were answered, and he7:30 knocked at the door. Alright? Verse 16. Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him, and they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand7:42 to keep silent, he declared to them how the lord had brought him out of the prison and said, go tell these things to James. Now this is James, who was the head of the church there in Jerusalem, the half brother of Jesus.7:53 And he departed and went to another place. Then as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he8:05 examined the guards and commanded they should be put to death. And he went down to Judea to from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. Now here's something that we can take confidence in.8:17 Alright? While justice may sometimes be delayed, it will not be denied God's people. That is God's promise. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.8:28 Verse 20. Now Herod listen to this. Now when now Herod had been very angry at the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they came to him with 1 accord and having made Blastus, the8:40 king's personal aid, their friend, they asked for peace because their country was was supplied with food by the king's country. So on a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his8:52 throne and gave an oration to them. So they were basically kissing up to the king because they needed what came from them. And so he's, you know, he's all this pomp and circumstance, and he's9:04 there, and he makes this speech. And the people kept shouting, the voice of God and not a man. And I think a lot of this was just kind9:16 of blowing up his head. Okay? I I don't think it was genuine. Then immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms, and he died. He9:28 lived for about 5 days. But the word of God grew and multiplied. God is not mocked. Right? Notice the effect of Herod's demise. Herod9:40 going after God's people, setting himself up as as some kind of God himself and and not recognizing the 1 true God from whom all authority comes from, he, he9:52 struck down by an angel of God. And the effect of his demise is the word of God grew and multiplied. No doubt because the fear of God and the fear of, the reverence for God and the10:04 power of the gospel spread as a result of what happened. Finally, let me answer this question. Why did James become a martyr, but Peter was set free? Now Peter10:16 ultimately, he he too would be mortal martyred as Jesus had told, as we read in the book of John. Now if you're asking that question, why did James get set free in this occasion10:28 or why did Peter get set free in not James? I mean, that that that's a question that's, you know, I actually asked myself. I mean, 2 apostles, both had been a part of Jesus' inner circle. Both were being used by God. In10:39 fact, some, believe that James was a very effective preach preacher, which put him on Herod's watch list. So why did he die and Peter didn't at10:50 this time? What we can tell from Acts chapter 12 is that James was grabbed rather quickly by Herod and executed. And as I mentioned, it could be that the church had become complacent11:02 with the relatively peaceful environment, and didn't and wasn't really gathered together praying intently. They didn't it took them a while to mobilize the prayer. Maybe they didn't have time to pray because it11:14 happened so quickly. But in the case of peer Peter, we read of the earnest around the clock prayer by the church. Was that what made the difference? Well, we11:26 don't know the answer to every why this side of heaven. I believe that this gives us insight into the power of corporate prayer. And I think that's why we're told to pray, and we're told to gather together and11:38 pray. Now we we also know that God works his own plan. And we also know that he's not indifferent toward our suffering, but he is near to the brokenhearted as Psalm11:49 34 states. We're we're refined through suffering individually and collectively as the church. As Paul writes in Romans chapter 8, sharing in Christ's suffering is a reminder that we're12:01 gonna share in his glory. Scripture and history record that persecution strengthens god's people and brings glory to god and advances his word, his kingdom, and his12:13 purposes, even as we see here in this chapter. Opposition and persecution keep before us the instructions of Paul that we see in Ephesians 6 to be prepared12:25 for the spiritual battle that we're in. We need to be reminded from time to time. In in in Ephesians 6 18 says, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all12:36 perseverance and supplication for all the saints. We need to be in a state of prayer for 1 another and for the church. Prayer is not a platform per personal therapy. I know there's a lot of12:48 studies on on prayer and how it has health benefits. Look. It is a petition to the living God, the maker and the sustainer of life. Prayer matters or we wouldn't be called to13:00 it. But we also know that our prayer must be according to the will of God, and there are some things beyond our understanding in this life. We must pray even as Jesus did, not my will, but yours13:13 be done. Whether by life or by death, as Paul said, Christ be honored. Father, we thank you for your word. And and, Lord, just so grateful13:24 for this account of the early church even as we face similar challenges today. Lord, may we be bold and confident in the plan that you have as we walk in13:36 fellowship with you, abiding in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered to live and overcome in this life, in this world today. May you use us as13:48 you did the early church to advance the truth that others might come not only into a the abundant life here and now, but most importantly, lord, anchored in14:00 eternity in a relationship with you. So father, guide us and direct us and use us for your kingdom. We pray and ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. And14:12 until next time, keep standing on the word.14:16 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:28 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Faith Amid Persecution: Lessons from Acts 12
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