Today in Acts 12 we should learn a lot about the importance of using the scriptures as they were written. Including using the Strong’s’ Concordance. It will help us very much in interpreting what God says instead of what man says. Jeremiah 17:5. Chapter 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. He is of Esau, Jacobs’ brother. Jacob today is Israel and America as well as all the Christian nations of the world. Esau is Russia, and their brothers of the Vulgate.
Acts 12:2] And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
These would be of the 12 Apostles.
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 2 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 in the Strongs’. And is Pascha in the Greek. Always translated Passover, with this one exception, and it was wrong. 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, this is why 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 Passover is, you guessed it, G3957 (Pascha) in the Strongs’. Jesus Christ is our Passover. He is our Passover Lamb. We are to worship Jesus and observe the Passover. It is not just a Jew thing, but it is for all of Jacob.
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.
Jesus would say, in Mat.26.
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, and bringing in the new, that on repentance we have salvation. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Now this Harod is the second son of the Harod that killed John the Baptist.
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 Gods’ Word. Think God doesn’t have humor? And 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.
[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 he just showed up at the house, and 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. He just got broke out of jail by God, and was trying to hide from the prison guards.
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 shhh keep it down, quit making so much noise, I just escaped.
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.
Harod killed the 16 guards for losing Peter.
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 are Sidon are Kenites. These will come together in these end times. that would be Russia and the Locust army, the Kenites, coming against all of Israel today.
Acts 12:21] And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
[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.
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 Harod. Never mock the LORD.
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.
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. What an interesting study today. It only get’s better, 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