DAY #199: Acts 11:27-12:19

Because there were serious food shortages during this time due to the famine, the believers in Antioch assisted the church in Jerusalem. The daughter church had grown enough to be able to help the mother church.

The chapter ends with a very healthy picture of this burgeoning, young, and mostly Gentile church. They had two high-quality teachers, Barnabas and Saul. They had a solid contingency of giving saints—donating enough money to tend to the local needs of the congregation and send something to the “mother church” at Jerusalem. The idea of a Gentile-Christian congregation sending help to a Jewish-Christian church highlights the quality of its spiritual character.

While the church was growing dramatically, the king (King Herod Agrippa I) was also increasing the persecution. His sister was Herodias, who had been responsible for the death of John the Baptist. He began to persecute the Christians in order to please the Jewish leaders who opposed them, hoping to solidify his position. Many Jews had been tolerating this new movement as a sect within Judaism, but its rapid growth alarmed them. Persecution of Christians was revived, and even the apostles were not spared.

James and John were two of the original twelve disciples who followed Jesus. They had asked Jesus for special recognition in his Kingdom. Jesus said that to be a part of his Kingdom would mean suffering with him. James and John did indeed suffer—Herod had James killed with a sword. These two brothers were the first and the last apostles to die.

Herod, in the self-serving spirit of the previous Herods of the New Testament, took special delight in the positive political benefits he received from executing James. Since James’s execution pleased the Jewish leaders, Herod Agrippa then arrested Peter during the Passover. This was a strategic move since more Jews were in the city than usual, and Herod could impress the most Jews by imprisoning the most visible of the church leaders.

Peter was well guarded by four squads of four soldiers each—each squad would have guarded Peter for one-fourth of a day! Evidently, Herod knew of Peter’s previous escape and wanted to be sure that such would not happen this time. Luke carefully recorded the location of the soldiers in charge of making sure this reputed jail-breaking apostle did not slip away again and leave Herod with a serious public-relations problem. Two soldiers were chained to Peter, one on either side, and others were standing guard at the prison gate. Luke again stressed the power of God over earthly rulers.

From his sleep, Peter was roused by an angel of the Lord and was told to get up. The command was accompanied by his chains falling off his wrists. The term for “falling off” comes from a Greek word meaning to “drop away.” Neither the angel nor Peter touched the chains—they came off because God was setting Peter free.

Peter seemed dazed as he followed the angel’s instructions. The angel stayed with Peter a little longer, then suddenly left Peter alone. Peter finally realized what had happened. He realized that the Lord had saved him. He knew Herod’s plans to use Peter’s incarceration (and possible execution) as another way to ingratiate himself to the Jews. Peter’s awareness of his life-threatening situation, particularly in light of the recent execution of James, made his peaceful sleep in the prison cell all the more marvelous. Peter had seen enough to trust that the Father was in control of his life.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Why does God allow suffering and persecution?

"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:19-24 (NIV)

Why does God allow suffering and persecution? To advance the Gospel. To increase our witness. To make us bold.

(Paul) "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:12-14 (NIV)