Today’s titles are; Verses 1-4 Herod kills James and imprisons Peter. Verses 5-19 Where to pray. Verses 20-25 The death of Herod. In today’s study we will learn the importance of the manuscripts. The best way to get to the manuscripts is through the Strongs Concordance. Acts 12 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 12:1] Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Important to understand who this Harod is. Herod G2264 4. Herod Agrippa I was the son of Aristobulus and Berenice, and grandson of Herod the Great. After various changes in fortune, he gained the favour of Caligula and Claudius to such a degree that he gradually obtained the government of all of Palestine, with the title of king. He died at Caesarea, A.D. 44, at the age of 54, in the seventh [or the 4th, reckoning from the extension of his dominions by Claudius] year of his reign, just after having ordered James the apostle, son of Zebedee, to be slain, and Peter to be cast into prison: Acts 12:1-2.
That was straight out of the Strongs. With that understanding we can say the timing of Acts 12 is in 44 AD. Also important to understand these Herod’s are the children of Esau. Jacob I loved but Esau I hated. Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:13. We have two brothers that were twins, but Esau sold his inheritance for a bowl of mush. Back to Acts 12 and verse 2 reads.
Acts 12:2] And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
He killed James, the son of Zebedee, John’s brother. This is another like for us in these end times. 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.
1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Now let’s go to Joel 2 and verse 28 reads.
Joel 2:28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
The apostles will be delivered up as examples for us in these end times who give their testimony against the antichrist. Here is where we find Testimony in the Strongs, G3144 Martyr and means; 1. those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.
Many Christians fear this time, but the Elect know this is their destiny. Put on that gospel armor and STAND against the antichrist. Back to Acts 12 and verse 3 reads.
Acts 12:3] And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
The days of unleavened bread. The Passover was a two week period, the first week was called unleavened. You were to keep sin out of your house, so that you could take the Passover clean.
Acts 12:4] And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
First, they took Peter and cast him in prison because it was illegal to hold trials during the Holy time of Passover. Remember they crucified our Lord Jesus even though it was Passover? Jesus was the Passover Lamb. Second, this word Easter is G3957 pascha pronounced pas’-khah and means; Passover. Let’s go to 1Cor.5:6-8 and read.
1Cor.5:6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Remember leaven is symbolic of sin. Now, the reason we came here.
1Cor. 5:7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
This word Passover is, you guessed it, G3957 (Pascha). Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. We are to worship Jesus and observe the Passover. It is not a Jew thing, but it is the Christian observance that we as Christians are to follow.
1Cor.5:8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul just said we are to keep the feast, Passover and not the easter. For easter is a pagan holiday. Jesus would say in Matthew 26 and verse 26 reads.
Mat.26:26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
The bread is his body, therefore cast out the old leaven, cast out the sin before you partake of it when you take Communion.
Mat.26:27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
[28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Doing away with the Old Testament (Feast) and bringing in the New Testament pertains to us now taking the sacraments and having Communion with the Lord, that on repentance we have salvation. Now the law says in Exodus 12 and verse 14 reads.
Exo.12:14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
The LORD God Almighty said; Keep it a feast forever. PERIOD. The feast has become our Communion. Back to Acts and verse 5 reads.
Acts 12:5] Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Intercessory prayer is very powerful. The whole church prayed for Peter.
Acts 12:6] And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
[7] And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
This would be the Spirit of the LORD. And notice how the chains fell off of Peter. The Power of the Lord is present with Peter in the prison.
Acts 12:8] And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
[9] And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
Peter did not know at this point whether or not he was dreaming. Let’s go to Psalms 126 and read all of it, verse 1 reads.
Psa.126:1] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
[2] Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
[3] The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
[4] Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
[5] They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
[6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
In Acts 10 Peter was in a trance when the Spirit of the LORD spoke to him, now in prison he cannot tell. Back to Acts 12 and verse 10 reads.
Acts 12:10] When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
Now Peter knows he is not dreaming. The LORD himself brought Peter out of the prison and the gate of the city opened before them. Powerful.
Acts 12:11] And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
In other words, he knew that he would not be killed, but must go and serve the Lord. Let’s go to Psalms 33 and verse 18 reads.
Psa.33:18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Fear is love.
Psa.33:19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
[20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
[21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Now let’s go to Psalms 34 and verse 6 reads.
Psa.34:6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
[7] The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
[8] O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
[9] O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Again, fear is love. The Lord will never leave you or forsake you. Back to Acts 12 and verse 12 reads.
Acts 12:12] And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
To me, this is one of the funniest parts in God’s Word. Think God doesn’t have a sense of humor? Think about that, we are made in his image.
Acts 12:13] And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Rhoda means; Rose. Let’s go to the most beautiful love story ever told, Song of Solomon 2 and verse 1 reads.
SOS 2:1] I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
[2] As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
As we are in a wicked world, we are not of this world, but chosen out of this world. God’s love for his daughters, are we not all waiting for the bride groom? Back to Acts 12 and verse 14 reads.
Acts 12:14] And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
Picture this, they were just praying for Peter. And Peter just shows up at the house. She doesn’t open the door, but instead is so happy, she leaves him outside and runs back to the others to tell them.
Acts 12:15] And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
[16] But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Finally, they let him in. The LORD himself took him out of prison, and they had been praying, and thought it was his angel. Peter knows that the guards must be looking for him.
Acts 12:17] But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
He said keep it down, quit making so much noise, I just escaped. The first thing he asks of them is to go and tell his brethren, they would know where to find him. This James is the half-brother to Jesus, the writer of the book of James.
Acts 12:18] Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
[19] And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Herod killed the 16 guards for losing Peter. Listen closely, this is another like for us in these end times.
Acts 12:20] And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
This is deep, Harod is Esau, Tyre and Sidon are Kenites. These will come together in these end times. This would be Russia and the Locust army, the Kenites, coming against the house of Jacob and the house of Judah, or America and Israel of today.
Acts 12:21] And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Here is a type for the antichrist.
Acts 12:22] And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
This reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar. This won’t go well for Harod. Notice the lowercase g in god. Let’s go to 2Thessalonians 2 and verse 4 reads.
2Thes.2:4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Another example for the end times. Satan (antichrist) will stand claiming to be God and showing himself he is God. But he is a liar and of the synagogue of Satan. Rev.2:9 and Rev.3:9. Back to Acts 12 and verse 23 reads.
Acts 12:23] And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Down goes Herod. Never mock the LORD. The LORD smites Herod because he claimed to be God and did not give God the glory. Let’s go to Psalms 115 and verse 1 reads.
Psa.115:1] Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
[2] Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
[3] But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
And it pleased him to smite Herod. Back to Acts 12 and verse 24 reads.
Acts 12:24] But the word of God grew and multiplied.
God will smite our enemies and his enemies, but the Word of God will continue to grow immensely. Let’s go to Isaiah 55 and verse 11 reads.
Isa.55:11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Now let’s go to Colossians 1 and verse 5 reads.
Col.1:5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
[6] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
The Word is Truth. Back to Acts 12 and verse 25 reads.
Acts 12:25] And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Barnabas and Saul will need Mark John to help them in their ministries. Great study today, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible