The Book of Acts Chapter 12

[뉴맨]

The Book of Acts Chapter 12

Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.12.NIV

Persecutor & Persecutees, Beginning of Mission Works

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

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. (The King Herod executed James, the brother of John to discourage the spread of the Gospel. The persecuting group had expanded to the king from the Jewish leaders. The death of James was a very sad and traumatic to the believers. But James didn't fail his life and ministry with his early unfair death because God Himself never fails and God didn't fail with James.)

3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

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. (With the approval of the Jews, Herod arrested and imprisoned Peter to kill him to please the people.)

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

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.

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. (The night before of the trial, Angel appeared and rescued Peter. It was the second time after the first release in 5:18-19 which was minor and temporary.)

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.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” (But this time, Peter must flee from the imminent death.)

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (The believers were gathered and prayed for the safety of Peter at the time.)

13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (The people were astonished even though they were praying for him. God answered beyond of their expectation.)

17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James (Jesus' brother) and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. (Confirm‎ing his release with fellow church leaders, Peter fled to a certain unknown place for his safety.)

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. (There was a serious aftermath such as the execution of guards because of the escape of Peter.)

Herod’s Death

20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.

22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”

23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (He was a renowned (but evil) king of Judea and caused great pain and lose to the believers. But his death was more miserable than the average since his life and rule were not of God's. You may refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Agrippa for more information on Herod Agrippa.)

24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. (But God only is the RULER of the history. So that His followers eventually will win in eternity.)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off (Mission Journey Begun)

25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (This is the historic beginning of the missionary service of Paul and his friends.)