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More Acts commentaries
Acts 9:19b-31
Previous Persecutor Begins Preaching Ministry
Acts 9:1-9
Saul’s "Damascus Road Conversion” to Paul
Acts 9:10-19a
Ananias is Available to Disciple Saul–a New Believer!
Acts 9:32-43
Peter Used by God in Joppa to Heal Beloved Dorcas
Acts 10:1-8
Cornelius–A Religious Man on a Mission for God
Acts 10:9-22
God’s "Gentile” Message to Peter through Visions
Acts 10:23-33
Peter Meets Corneilius
Acts 10:34-48
Peter Preaches to Cornelius Household
Acts 11:1-18
Peter’s Defense to the Legalists
Acts 11:19-26
Barnabas Seeks Saul to Help with Discipleship
Acts 11:27-30
Antioch Believers Send Encouragement to Jerusalem
Acts 12:1-11
Continual Prayer Brings Results
Acts 12:12-17
Prayers Answered – Oh We of Little Faith!
Acts 12:18-25
God’s Judgment on King Herod (Agrippa I)
Acts 13:1-3
Barnabas and Saul Commissioned for Missionary Service
Acts 13:4-12
Saul (Paul) Confronts a Sorcerer at Cyprus
Acts 13:13-31
Paul and Barnabas Say Farewell to John Mark
Acts 13:32-41
Paul Preaches the Gospel Including Christ’s Resurrection
Acts 13:42-52
Gentiles Receptive to Paul’s Message – Jews Become Envious
Acts 14:1-7
Opposition/Rejection From the Iconium Crowd
Acts 14:8-12
Paul and Barnabas Refute People’s Worship
Acts 14:13-20
From "God” to "Stoning” – Paul Still Committed to Preach
Acts 14:21-28
Paul and Barnabas Share their Ministry with Supporters
Acts 15:1-5
Jerusalem Council–Divisions Re: Circumcision
Acts 15:6-11
Jerusalem Council–Discussion Re: Moses’ Law
Acts 15:12-18
Jerusalem Council–Decisions Based on God’s Word
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Continual Prayer Brings Results
Acts 12:1–11
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons–but they are helpless against our prayers.” (J. Sidlow Baxter). … More
In this chapter a new wave of persecution, instigated by King Herod, broke out against the Church, and especially against its leaders (v. 1). Herod Agrippa of this chapter was a direct descendant of the Maccabees, through his mother Mariamne. He had been educated at Rome, but he deliberately cultivated the good graces of the Jewish people by meticulously keeping the Law and all Jewish observances. For these reasons he was popular with the people; and it was no doubt in order to achieve further popularity with the orthodox Jews that he decided to attack the Christian Church and its leaders. Herod had arrested James and Peter, executing James, and keeping Peter in a dungeon (vv. 2-4). Sixteen soldiers, four for each watch, were stationed to keep guard over Peter. Two soldiers were chained to him and two watched the doors. Evidently the authorities remembered the last time Peter had been arrested, and how he had mysteriously escaped from jail, and they were not about to let that happen again.
In the meantime the church was praying, and in answer to their prayers (v. 5) God supernaturally awakened Peter from a sound sleep (v. 6). He caused the chains to fall from his wrists, kept the guards asleep, and opened the iron gates (vv. 7-11). This certainly demonstrates how the power of God, in direct answer to prayer, is greater than that of any Herod.
Application
Lord, help me to think about some real answers to prayer I have had. Also help me to bring to my mind some urgent prayer requests.
Acts 12:1-11 (English Standard Version)
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
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