Acts 12:1-10 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 12:1-10. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 12:1-3 (NIV)
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
On verses 1-3: James, the brother of John and one of the original twelve disciples, is martyred for his faith, put to death with the sword by King Herod. Seeing how the killing of a Christian leader was seemingly gaining him favour with other people in his kingdom, King Herod decides to seize Peter with plans to put him on trial and to execute Peter just like he did James. “This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread” (v3) – in other words, on the anniversary of Jesus’ own arrest, crucifixion and death on Passover weekend, Peter was being seized and on the verge of being executed. Peter probably imagined that this is exactly how his life was supposed to end.
Acts 12:4-5 (NIV)
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
On verses 4-5: Because Peter was able to escape prison the last time, Herod wanted to make sure that the same didn’t happen again. So Herod places many more soldiers to guard Peter. But once again we see the power of prayer and the power of God to overcome the plans of men. Sixteen armed soldiers will turn out to be no match for one unarmed disciple when that one disciple is supported by his church with earnest prayers. Whenever we or those we love face difficulties, let our offensive weapon, our defensive shield, our first resort and our constant habit be prayer. With prayer comes God’s peace and God’s power.
Acts 12:6 (NIV)
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
On verse 6: Peter knows he is probably going to be executed in the morning. Yet the night before his trial and execution he’s sleeping soundly while chained to two soldiers, so soundly that he needs to be struck in the side to be woken up (v7). How could Peter sleep with his life in danger and his fate so uncertain? It’s because to Peter his fate wasn’t uncertain. Peter knew that his life was safe in God’s hands, so he needn’t fear what tomorrow holds.
What can we learn from this? When you know that God holds your life in His hands and that no one is more loving, powerful, wise and trustworthy than He is, you can have peace even in the midst of great uncertainty. I pray that you and I would have a similar peace, that even when facing an uncertain future, even when sandwiched by enemies, we would be able to find peace and rest in the Lord.
Acts 12:7-10 (NIV)
7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.
9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
10 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.
On verses 7-10: Peter responds obediently to the angel, thinking that it’s only a dream, when in fact this deliverance from prison was happening in real life. Whether we think it’s a dream or real life, let’s respond obediently to God and step out in faith, because the worst case scenario is that it’s just a dream, and the best case scenario is that freedom is waiting on the other side of our obedience.
Also, notice that the angel only physically accompanied Peter one block and then let Peter walk the rest of the way himself. Often that’s how God works with us too. When we first step out in faith, we often feel Him accompanying us with a special sense of His presence and protection. But there comes a point when God will want us to exercise faith by walking forward even when we don’t feel His presence strongly. It’s part of God’s maturing process with us. Will we walk by faith or just by our feelings?
Father, thank You that because You hold my life and tomorrow in Your hands, I can rest safely and in peace today. Thank You that with You is not just make belief deliverance, but real deliverance. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
