Acts 12: 1-19

What is going on?

Acts 12: 1-19

Breaking Chains

Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

Jobs, S. 2005. Commencement Speech at Stanford. (use)

The Bible promotes optimism, but it is a certain kind of optimism. It is not the secular optimism of positive thinking, or the natural optimism of a laid-back personality, but the godly optimism of Christian hope.

Mellinger, J. 2018. Your Morning Will Come: Trusting God in the Darkest Nights. Desiring God. (use)

Eccles. 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no-one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (use)

The circumstances of the Christian’s life are ordained of God. There is no such thing as chance. Love refuses to believe that God is not interested in every detail of life. Everything is permitted and designed by Him for wise purpose. He will not cease His supervision for a moment. [pg. 14]

Sanders, J.O., 1962. On to maturity. (use)

1 Samuel 2:7

He makes some poor and others rich; he humbles some and makes others great. (use)

Isaiah 6:9

So he told me to go and give the people this message: "No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening." (use)

Deuteronomy 29:29

There are some things that the LORD our God has kept secret; but he has revealed his Law, and we and our descendants are to obey it for ever. (use)

Authorities

Romans 13:1

Everyone must obey the state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. (use)

Luke 12:4-5

I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear! "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterwards do anything worse. (use)

Acts 5:29

Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God, not men. (use)

Acts 12:2

He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. (use)

Matthew 20:22

"You don't know what you are asking for," Jesus answered the sons. "Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?" "We can," they answered. (use)

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. (use)

...when God’s Word is faithfully communicated, it will have the double effect of drawing the elect to Him and driving the nonelect away. All preaching of God’s Word runs the risk of both outcomes, no matter how eloquent or contextualized the communication.

Reid, S. 2018. Should Excellent Preaching Drive People Away? Tabletalk. (use)

Acts 12:3

When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he went on to arrest Peter. (This happened during the time of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.) (use)

Repsonse

John 14:27

Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. (use)

Matthew 5:38-39

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. (use)

Acts 12:5

So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying earnestly to God for him. (use)

The method of God

Jeremiah 29:11

I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. (use)

Mark 13:9

You yourselves must be on guard. You will be arrested and taken to court. You will be beaten in the synagogues; you will stand before rulers and kings for my sake to tell them the Good News. (use)

Matthew 27:43

He trusts in God and claims to be God's Son. Well, then, let us see if God wants to save him now! (use)

Acts 12:7

Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At once the chains fell off Peter's hands. (use)

Acts 12:11

Then Peter realized what had happened to him, and said, "Now I know that it is really true! The Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod's power and from everything the Jewish people expected to happen." (use)

Acts 12:14

She recognized Peter's voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside. (use)

A strong confidence in God’s loving intentions and enveloping care fortifies us to face whatever life throws at us.

Ortlund, R., 2013. Supernatural Living for Natural People: The Life-giving message of Romans 8, Revised edition edition. ed. Christian Focus. (use)

And the others

Romans 6:23

For sin pays its wage — death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord. (use)

The eternal reality

The contours of human history do not always make sense from our finite perspective. At times, it even appears that the church is losing. But take heart, dear believer: our God reigns. We are in the secure grip of God’s sovereign grace through faith in His crucified, risen, and exalted Son. Christ, the omnipotent monster slayer, is coming again. Abide in Him. You have nothing to fear.

Payne, J.D. 2018. Fear and the Reign of God. (use)

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts for ever. (use)

Matthew 16:18

And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. (use)

Philippians 1:21

For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. (use)

In Jesus you discover grace sufficient for you, grace to hold you up to the end, and a sure promise that sin shall soon be rooted out all together. "Fear not, I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by My name; thou art Mine."

Bonar, A. 2016. Memoir and Remains of the REV. Robert Murray M'Cheyne. (use)

Psalm 127:1

If the LORD does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the LORD does not protect the city, it is useless for the sentries to stand guard. (use)

Acts 12:24

Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and grow. (use)