Acts 12 is my new favorite chapter. Just when it seems things can’t get any worse, God steps on the scene. We pray this is that time for our family, our church, our country, and the whole world. For the word of God to spread and multiply.
Acts 12 opens with wicked King Herod in power with “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22) bowing to the woke cancel culture of the Jews.
Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. (Acts 12:1-4 WEB)
But in Acts 12, which is considered to have occurred in 44 AD, just 15 years after the crucifixion, the church was fervently active.
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. (Acts 12:5)
(5) Prayer was made without ceasing.—The adjective is rendered by “fervent” in 1Peter 4:8, and implies, as in the marginal reading, intensity as well as continuity. The words imply that the members of the Church continued, in spite of the persecution, to meet as usual, probably, as in Acts 12:12, in the house of Mary, the mother of Mark. –Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
Therefore, Acts 12 ends with Peter rescued (Acts 12:5-19) and King Herod dead, but the word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24). Does it seem like things can’t get any worse?
- The LORD says, Even now return to me – When disaster strikes, some people return to God for understanding, comfort, and a new relationship. Some people turn away. What will you do?
- Failure to read and apply the Bible causes spiritual wasting disease – Failure to read the Bible and failure to apply the Bible results in a progressive spiritual wasting disease that can be eternally fatal
- For such a time as this – Such a time as this in every generation. God has prophesied it will get worse. He has revealed how to prepare. Are we ready?
- Pray for president and all that are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-7) – The Bible commands that we pray for kings and all that are in authority so we pray that God will bless our president and our nation for His glory.
- Who Is This Man?: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus by John Ortberg — Jesus’ impact on our world is highly unlikely, widely inescapable, largely unknown, and decidedly double-edged. It is unlikely in light of the severe limitations of his earthly life; it is inescapable because of the range of impact; it is unknown because history doesn’t connect dots; and it is doubled-edged because his followers have wreaked so much havoc, often in his name. He is history’s most familiar figure, yet he is the man no one knows. His impact on the world is immense and non-accidental. From the Dark Ages to Post-Modernity he is the Man who won’t go away. And yet … you can miss him in historical lists for many reasons, maybe the most obvious being the way he lived his life. He did not loudly and demonstrably defend his movement in the spirit of a rising political or military leader. He did not lay out a case that history would judge his brand of belief superior in all future books. His life and teaching simply drew people to follow him. He made history by starting in a humble place, in a spirit of love and acceptance, and allowing each person space to respond. His vision of life continues to haunt and challenge humanity. His influence has swept over history bringing inspiration to what has happened in art, science, government, medicine, and education; he has taught humans about dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope.