SCRIPTURE: ACTS 12
PETER’S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM PRISON (vs. 1-19)
King Herod arrested James, the brother of John and put him to death with the sword. Then he proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and put him in prison. He was guarded by four squads of four soldiers before bringing him out for public trial after the Passover. While Peter was in prison, the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
Peter was bound with two chains sleeping between two soldiers and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up saying “Quick, get up, put on your clothes and sandals. Wrap your cloak around you and follow me” (vs. 7-8). The chains fell off Peter’s wrists and he followed the angel out of the prison. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter knew that the Lord had sent his angel to rescue him from Herod’s clutches and from every thing the Jewish people were anticipating. Then Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of Joh, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. Overjoyed upon recognizing Peter’s voice, she opened it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” (v. 14) But the people inside did not believe and said that Rhoda was out of her mind. Rhoda kept insisting and Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Before he left for another place, he told them to tell James and the brothers about this.
In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
HEROD’S DEATH (vs. 20-25)
Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
On the appointed day, Herd wore his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and spread.
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
THOUGHTS:
King Herod Agrippa was the son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great. His sister was Herodias, who was responsible for the death of John the Baptist. The Romans had appointed Herod Agrippa to rule over most of Palestine, including the territories of Galilee, Perea, Judea and Samaria. He persecuted the Christians in order to please the Jewish leaders who opposed them, hoping that would solidify his position. Agrippa died suddenly in AD 44. (Source: From Life Application Study Bible)
King Herod intentionally arrested Peter during the Festival of Unleavened Bread because his strategic plan was to impress more Jews who will be in the city than usual. He planned to execute Peter but the earnest prayer of the church changed everything. God sent an angel to rescue Peter. When you are in a difficult situation, pray with confidence knowing that God will answer your prayer.
Herod died in horrible death accompanied by intense pain. He was eaten alive by worms from the inside out. To be eaten by worms was considered to be one of the most disgraceful way to die. God chose to punish his pride immediately.