Peter vs. Herod

"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed." (Acts 12: 1-18 NIV)

What a marvelous story full of wonderful lessons about Lord God's providential dealings with men, particulary with his own people!

Note first the sovereignty of God in relation to the daily lives and affairs of men, and of his people especially. God is the one in control of all things.

Lord God is the Engineer of engineers, engineering events to the ends (destinies ) he has appointed for all things.

Truly the Christians confess that God is a God "who works all in all," or "who works everything in everyone." (See I Corinthians 12: 6) It is Lord God himself who has "worked all our works in us." (See Isaiah 26: 12)

The believer can neither boast nor brag for anything good in him, but credit all to God's grace and to the power of his Holy Spirit.

Herod had his plans, purposes, and intentions in regard to Peter's future and destiny. He intended to persecute him, to make a spectacle of him, and then to ultimately kill him. The unbelieving Jews also shared his intentions. This was their joint will, their choice, and the one they intended to "act out."

But, Lord God, in a display of his sovereigty, disappointed the intention of king Herod and of the wicked Jews.

This reminds us of the many scriptures that speak of God frustrating men in their wicked intentions, on a regular basis, and as part of his on-going governance of history.

"He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise." (Job 5: 12 KJV)

"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined." (Psalm 10: 2 KJV)

Remember the lesson from the book of Esther! - Mordecai hung in his own gallows!

"The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect." (Psalm 33: 10 KJV)

"Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices." (Proverbs 1: 31 KJV)

"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." (Proverbs 19: 21 KJV)

So, though Herod, the king, and the Jews in company, could not fulfil their intentions, so neither can anyone fulfil his will when the Sovereign Lord has determined otherwise!

We serve a sovereign God! He is truly God of our circumstances, and Lord in all our disasters, ensuring that "all things work together for good to those who love God and have been called accoring to his (sovereign and eternal) purpose (or his purpose in predestination)." (Romans 8: 28)

Note next that God is the one who directs, governs, and watches over each one of his people. He takes into his notice every minute detail. He is all seeing and all knowing. He liberates them, and removes chains that bind them, and opens doors for them, often sending his angels to minister to them. (See Psalm 104: 4 & Hebrews 1: 7)

Note next that the above story is a supernatural happening in the lives of the apostles and first Christians and tells us much about the power, as well as the weakness, that they had in faith and in prayer.

The brotherhood was praying fervently for Peter's release. He is released! Prayer answered! But, amazingly, they could not bring themselves to believe it! How so much like all Christians! Weak in faith and in expectation!

Sometimes our prayers are answered already and we do not even realize it, or at least, not yet know it or are aware of it! Needless worry! "Oh what needless pain we bear!"

Finally, look at the faith of Peter! In prison with guards plenty, and bound securely, and knowing that tomorrow he will perhaps be tortured and put to death! What does he do? Does he fret? Does he pace the cell? No, he sleeps! Oh the peace and calm assurance that Jesus can give to such who are bound by sin, who need a firm sense of divine safety and heavenly protection.

Truly, "safety is of the Lord"! (Provers 21: 31 KJV) Truly he answers prayer! Truly he saves and delivers!