Acts 12 – Peter in Jail & Rescued, James Killed, Herod Dies

Acts 12 – Peter in Jail & Rescued, James Killed, Herod Dies

Herod persecuted the church. He killed James (John’s brother). It pleased the Jews, so he arrested Peter. Peter was put in prison and the church prayed earnestly to God for him. An angel of the Lord broke Peter’s chains and asked Peter to follow him, he thought it was a vision. Then the iron gate leading into the city opened by itself for them. The angel disappeared. He went to the house of Mary (John Mark’s mother) where many were gathered praying. Peter knocked at the door, a servant girl (Rhoda) answered. She recognized Peter’s voice and was so joyful that she didn’t open the gate but ran to report to the people that Peter was at the gate. They thought Rhoda was crazy. They said it was his “angel”. Peter kept knocking. He told them what the Lord had done, and told them to tell James and the brothers. Herod ordered that the guards in charge of Peter be put to death. Herod was angry with the people in Tyre and Sidon. They asked Blastus for peace because they depended on Herod’s country for food. Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, delivered an oration, and the people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms. But the Word of God increased and multiplied. Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they finished their service in Antioch and brought John Mark with them.

Nothing can stop the spread of the gospel, not even kings who are worshiped by the people. The speeches of kings that try to take glory to themselves are put to an end, and the Word of God – the King of kings and Lord of Lords – spreads, increases, and multiplies. Praise God for His glorious unstoppable gospel!