Title: God is Almighty (Acts 12:1-17)
Content Introduction
1. It is unlikely that modern people will be persecuted for their faith.
2. However, in the case of the early church, persecution was serious.
I. The persecution for faith was severe (12:1-3).
A. At that time (v. 1).
1. The persecution was getting worse. The stronger the work of the Holy Spirit, the greater the persecution.
2. At that time, the Holy Spirit was working strongly in Antioch. And there was no special persecution in Antioch.
3. But at about the same time there was severe persecution in Jerusalem. So Peter was also arrested.
B. King Herod (1-2).
1. The name Herod was not a personal name, but a pronoun for the king of that country. Like "Caesar" in Rome.
2. At that time, Rome ruled Palestine. Caesar of Rome established a puppet government in Judea, which was ruled by Herod.
3. Herod at the time of Peter was Agrippa I, and he was cruel and vain, he enjoyed murder, and he was very wicked.
4. The clever Agrippa executed many Christians to please both the Romans and the Jews.
C. The time is the Feast of Unleavened Bread (3).
1. The Passover lasted for eight days, with the first day being the Passover and the remaining seven days being the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
2. During this Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jews do not leave any leaven in their homes, nor do they judge or execute them.
3. However, during this ban period, Peter was arrested.
II. Fear and anxiety continued (4-6).
A. He was imprisoned (4).
1. It was the third prison sentence for Peter (see Acts 4:3, 5:18).
2. Agrippa I knew that Peter had miraculously escaped prison last time. So he must have been on special guard against Peter.
B. The boundaries were tight.
1. The soldiers guarded it from all sides. Four people guarded one side.
2. The four soldiers guarding Peter were strictly guarded.
3. There was no way to escape.
C. The church prayed.
1. In a desperate situation, I had no choice but to wait for a formal trial.
2. But two things happened.
1) Peter fell asleep. I slept knowing that death was imminent.
2) The church prayed earnestly to God for him.
III. God intervened (7-11).
A. The messenger of the Lord appeared (7).
1. God sometimes uses this method. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and there was a dazzling light in the prison.”
2. The angel of the Lord woke Peter up and told him to get up. But “the chains fell out of their hands”
B. It was difficult to explain.
1. The angel gave Peter instructions.
1) Put on your clothes.
2) Follow me.
2. They passed by the watchman, but they did not see it. There was no one to catch him. And the angel took Peter out.
3. Peter thought that everything that had happened to him was a fantasy. But it wasn't a fantasy.
IV. People did not believe (12-17).
A. “You are crazy” (15).
1. Peter knocked on the door of the house, and a child named Rhoda came out.
2. But this child only recognized Peter's voice and went inside again and cried.
3. The people who heard it responded, “Crazy.”
B."It will be his angel" (15).
1. Rodde insisted that there was no doubt. But no one believed it.
2. They did not even know that their prayers were answered. I didn't want to believe it at all.
3. If Peter had come, he thought it would be his angel.
C. “I was amazed” (16).
1. Peter kept knocking on the door, so people went out and opened it. It was so amazing.
2.Peter talked about self-defense. And he told everyone to know this.
3. Rumors spread throughout the city.
conclusion
God is always at work among us. God approaches situations we think are impossible. and let's be together We learned two things.
1. In our opinion, the impossible, hopeless, can be a good opportunity to experience miracles.
2. If something that could not be done is solved, God intervenes and solves it.
We are constantly faced with impossible situations. Because God is our master.