New Life Baptist Church
April 12 - The Imprisonment of Peter
  • Lord, Be Glorified
  • Because He Lives

  • Acts 12

    This morning we will continue our study in Acts. Our 20th sermon so far and we have only gotten through 10 chapters.
    Before we dive into Chapter 12, I want to look at a verse in John 16
    John 16:33 NASB95
    “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
    The Persecution Continues
    Acts 12:1–4 NASB95
    Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
    v1 - Who is Herod?
    Herod the Great
    Matthew 2:16 NASB95
    Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
    Herod Antipas the Tetrarch (Younger Son of Herod the Great)
    Matthew 14:8–10 NASB95
    Having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
    Herod Agrippa I (grandson of Herod the Great)
    Acts 12:1–4 NASB95
    Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
    So by now...Jesus is Crucified, the perseuction of the church begins, Stephen is martyred, Now James is killed.
    (James, brother of John, not the Author of James/half brother of Jesus)
    The Herod Family tradition was to persecute the Christians.
    The Jews were pleased with the murder of James. This shows how much they hated Chrisitians and this movement.
    Herod began to pinpoint target the leaders of this Jesus Movement. James, then Peter.
    Peter Imprisoned
    Acts 12:3–5 NASB95
    When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
    A Roman squad consisted of 8 Legionaires.
    Remember a few weeks back we mentioned the centurion. Leader of 100 men.
    The Centuria consisted of 10 squads of legionaires. (8 men per squad x 10 squads) and 20 support staff. (100 men)
    So these squads had 8 men...Herod thought that Peter needed 4 squads...32 men to guard him.
    The plan was to wait until after Passover to bring him out before the people. Presumably to kill him.
    While Peter was in the Prison...The Church Prayed.
    God Intervenes
    Acts 12:6–11 NASB95
    On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
    v6 So not only did Herod have 32 soldiers watching Peter. He was wedged between to soldiers, bound with 2 chains.
    v6 Peter was sound asleep. How can you be sound asleep while being in prison?
    John 16:33 NASB95
    “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
    We can have peace in Prison and in Persecution.
    We can have peace in Trials and Tribulations.
    We can have peace in when we are in Distress and in Discomfort
    We can have peace when the walls are caving in and the world is crashing down around us.
    We can have peace when we are overwhelmed and overtaken.
    How can we have this peace...Because Jesus HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD.
    Acts 12:7 NASB95
    And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
    Acts 12:8 NASB95
    And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
    The angel wakes him up...His chains fall off. Get ready, you are coming with me!
    Acts 12:9 NASB95
    And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
    Acts 12:10 NASB95
    When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
    A miracluous escape...Peter didn’t know if it was real or not. Could I be dreaming? Is this a vision? He had already had one experience with a vision of the sheet.
    Acts 12:11 NASB95
    When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
    Sometimes it takes a minute for us to really understand what God is doing. But when we do...what a glorious revelation.
    I know for SURE that the Lord RESCUED Me.
    Sometimes, Even the Faithful Struggle to Believe Some of the Things God can Do.
    Acts 12:12–19 NASB95
    And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place. Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.
    The Church had prayed fervently for Peter. Yet, when Peter shows up they don’t believe that it is him. They think it is his angel.
    How often do we do that? Pray for something and then cannot believe it when it is answered.
    Ephesians 3:20 NASB95
    Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
    Our minds cannot phathom what God can do.
    The 2 things that I want you to take away from this sermon today so not come from Acts 12
    The first thing is John 16:33
    John 16:33 NASB95
    “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
    Truth #1 - Jesus Has Overcome the World
    Ephesians 3:20 NASB95
    Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
    Truth #2 - GOD is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY beyond all that we ask or think.

      • John 16:33NASB95

      • Acts 12:1–4NASB95

      • Matthew 2:16NASB95

      • Matthew 14:8–10NASB95

      • Acts 12:1–4NASB95

      • Acts 12:3–5NASB95

      • Acts 12:6–11NASB95

      • John 16:33NASB95

      • Acts 12:7NASB95

      • Acts 12:8NASB95

      • Acts 12:9NASB95

      • Acts 12:10NASB95

      • Acts 12:11NASB95

      • Acts 12:12–19NASB95

      • Ephesians 3:20NASB95

      • John 16:33NASB95

      • Ephesians 3:20NASB95

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