Acts (11)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 12 (Lesson 11) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 12.1-5.
The matter-of-fact tone of this paragraph is a bit startling. James was put to the sword because it pleased some jerk king to do so, and Peter, it seemed, would be next. No hand-wringing, despairing, or cries of outrage. Just the facts. But the tone is important.

For reflection
1.  Acts 12 provides an interlude between the breakout of the Gospel and the Kingdom in Acts 8-11, and the rapid advance and expansion which will begin in Acts 13. It’s as if Luke wants to remind us of some important matters by drawing us aside to these events in Jerusalem and beyond. In what ways does this chapter lead us to recall aspects of the ongoing work of Christ we’ve already seen in the book of Acts? Why is it good to recall these?

2.  Luke does not want us to be surprised by the continuing persecution, by attempts to clamp down on the Gospel, as though it should be considered abnormal. Jesus promised it, and even His closest companions did not escape. Moreover, death in this life is not the end of things for the believer, so we don’t regard martyrdom as a tragedy. In one way or to one degree or another, persecution simply comes with our Kingdom-and-glory calling to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1.8). That is your attitude toward being a witness for Christ, right?

3.  At the same time, believers should cry up to God as opponents try to clamp down on their liberties. Perhaps if we were as “earnest” in our prayers for our religious freedoms as these first believers were, and if we didn’t think that political solutions were real solutions or the best solutions for such problems, we might see the kind of results the first Christians were able to realize. Why is prayer always, if not the last resort, the least, to which we turn in times of trial?

4.  By the way, what does it suggest about Herod that he felt he needed four squads of soldiers to guard one fisherman-turned-preacher? Was this a matter of mere overkill? An attempt to impress? Or was Herod perhaps a little concerned that powers might be at work here which he did not understand – and it’s always best to be prepared? Do you think today’s opponents to the Gospel are as concerned about us as Herod was about Peter? Explain.

5.  We’ll just note here that Saul and Barnabas were probably in Jerusalem at this time (v. 25). If the execution of Peter had succeeded, could theirs have been far off? The purpose of Acts 12 is to remind us that the ongoing work of Christ has begun – the work of replacing one kingdom with another – and not even the greatest military and political power on earth can stand against it. What would it mean for Christians today to engage in “earnest prayer” for our persecuted brethren, our religious freedoms, and our witness for the Lord?

Summary
We should not think that persecution, harassment, scorn, mocking, and the like are not intended as part of our experience as believers. It is given to us not only to believe, but to suffer for the Lord (Phil. 1.29, 30). How can we prepare ourselves to stand firm in our witness in the event of such clamping-down beginning to clamp down on us?

Closing Prayer
O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83.13-18

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book, The Kingdom Turn (click here).

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