Acts 12:13–25
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Main Idea
Despite man’s plans, God’s will will always prevail.
Passage
Acts 12:13–25 ESV
13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Outline
I – The church encouraged (vv. 13-17)
II – The soldiers judged (vv. 18-19)
III – The king judged (vv. 20-23)
IV – The church encouraged (vv. 24-25)
I – The church encouraged
Peter praised God on the empty Jerusalem streets for His grace and rescue. Now, it is time for the church to do the same.
Rhoda
- A servant girl in Mary’s household
- Name means Rose
- Comedic relief – she left Peter, a wanted fugitive, out on the streets!
The church
The church has been fervently praying for Peter, likely some for his release, others to ensure, and others to die well.
“You are out of your mind.” – The church’s reaction doesn’t match their prayer request.
A parent is on the phone about their runaway dog. The child pulls on the mom’s pant leg. She gets annoyed. Because of persistence, the mom asks what the child wants. The child says the dog is on the front porch.
Despite the lack of faith, God answers prayer.
Rhoda remains convinced (she does see him with her own eyes, after all)
“It’s his angel!” – Jewish thought. Each person has a personal angel assigned. Angels can look like their assigned humans. They were still in disbelief.
Now, they hear Peter knocking, so they go to the door and are amazed.
Amazed – ekstasis (ἔκστασις ): ecstasy, astounded to the point of losing your mental composure – to literally have your mind blown. The same marvel the crowd exhibited when Jesus spoke with authority and when the gathered 120 spoke in other languages in Acts 2.
On the one hand, we should always marvel at God’s gracious acts toward his people. On the other hand, we should pray in such a way that we wouldn’t be surprised when this happens.
Peter’s testimony
- I’m sure Peter wanted them to marvel while he is inside the house and not exposed on the front porch.
- He shushed them.
- He recounted the story to them.
- He gave an imperative command to tell James (the other one) and the others what happened.
- Peter left, likely to hide in another city and not want to put his church family in danger since he was a fugitive in Jerusalem.
God strengthens His people, even in crippling situations. God’s power is not limited to the mechanics of our prayers.
Though their prayers were fervent, there was a heavy measure of disbelief behind them. And yet, God accomplished His purpose through them. Peter was out of prison and standing in Mary’s living room as living proof.
Stop wasting your time and mental energy trying to make your prayers perfect. It’s not about saying the right words with the right inflection through the proper amount of passion. No parent cares about how their child brings a concern to them. Dad won’t hold back his reaction because his son doesn’t fully believe Dad would do whatever he asks of him. Dad cares that his son came to him with a concern. Stop worrying about how you are coming to God and remember this is your Heavenly Father who cares for and loves you with a level of compassion you will never comprehend.
God has strengthened His church amid a crippling situation. Now that He has given hope to His people, He will turn His wrath on His enemies.
II – The soldiers judged
Enemies of the cross will never prosper, and God sometimes chooses to dispense judgment sooner rather than later.
Herod loses it
“It” being his lid and his prized prisoner.
We began this discussion with Herod at the height of power, commanding armies and having favor with the Jewish people.
He had successfully executed James – John’s brother, and now, he was excited to execute another one of Jesus’ right-hand men. Now, that elation had morphed into fury when he realized that 16 of his soldiers had failed him.
He lost his opportunity to earn more appreciation and recognition from the Jewish community and he had literally lost his prized prisoner.
The soldiers lose their lives
Imagine what that morning was like. Scripture says there was “no small disturbance.” The panic among the soldiers. The look on Herod’s face when he heard the news. The sudo-trial that was held in Herod’s presence.
In the wake of Herod’s fury, the 16 soldiers were swiftly dealt with.
Roman custom – if soldiers lost prisoners, they would suffer their fate instead.
So, since Peter was slated for execution, that was their fate.
Despite man’s plans, God’s will will always prevail.
Herod judged his men. Now, God will judge Herod.
III – The king judged
Knowing the OT scriptures, it’s a shame that Herod ignored the leaders of the past to recognize that fighting against God is a futile venture.
Just a single glance at the life of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar might have safeguarded him from his fate. Let’s review that together:
Daniel 4:30–35 ESV
30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Despite man’s plans, God’s will will always prevail.
Herod busies himself
Unfortunately for him, Herod didn’t take that advice into account. Instead of taking this event as a sign that Jesus really is King and His followers are the true children of Yahweh, he did the opposite.
First, he busied himself with other matters instead of tackling this head-on. He directed his frustration toward the people of Tyre and Sidon – prominent port cities in Phoenicia. These cities were culturally Roman to the core.
They were low on food supplies, likely because of the famine that hit the Roman Empire. Because they were industrialized, they probably didn’t have the agricultural capacities as the rest of Herod’s provinces. They were desperate, so they engaged Blastus in conversation, who was Herod’s chamberlain.
Chamberlain – High-level officer of his Lord’s personal affairs. Joseph was a type of chamberlain to Potiphar in Egypt. This person held sway and influence over the rest of the household staff (so he could be seen as a Chief of Staff) and even over his Lord since he was a trusted supervisor. The leaders of Tyre and Sidon knew that if they could sway or even bribe Blastus, they stood a good chance of winning Herod’s favor.
Herod peacocks
Now, Herod escapes his woes by going to Caesarea and dealing with Blastus’ new acquaintances.
At an appointed time, Herod becomes THE PEACOCK of all peacocks. Scripture tells us that he puts on royal robes, sits on the throne (Judgment seat), and delivers a speech.
The judgment seat is not what we think of in a courtroom or a great hall from the Thor movies. This was out in the open and was a large slab of stone on an elevated stage for loftiness, acoustics, and protection.
Josephus (the Jewish Historian) wrote about this speech in the Jewish Antiquities, section 10.344), saying that Herod’s robes were made entirely of silver and that he glimmered and sparkled more than a four-year-old girl submerged in a sandbox full of glitter. Here is what he says:
On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; (345) and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.”
– The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition
The people’s reaction was awe and exaltation, as we see from Josephus’ account and scripture that they shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” This wasn’t a big deal in Roman religion since they worshipped a host of different deities, but in Judaism and Christianity, that is the height of blasphemy. And what did Herod do? He embraced it.
As Josephus said:
(346) Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery.
– The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition
And, as scripture says, “he did not give God the glory.”
Herod dies
As a result, Herod was struck down by an angel (the warrior type). This is the same Greek word for when the angel struck Peter to awaken him in the prison cell.
When the Lord strikes His people, it is in a manner of grace that results in praise. When the Lord strikes his enemies, there is only judgment and death.
According to Josephus, Herod saw an owl perched on a rope above him, which he took as a bad omen. He subsequently encountered severe abdominal pains and died five days later.
Scripture doesn’t go into this level of detail, but, as a physician, Luke does hint at a medical diagnosis. The angel of the Lord struck Herod with a physical aliment that involved worms, which soon resulted in his death.
God doesn’t share His glory with others.
Herod should have listened to the story of Nebuchadnezzar, but he didn’t. In all actuality, he should have listened to the story of Adam and Eve. When Satan tempted Eve, he enticed them to doubt God and be like God, determining right and wrong. Even today, we all still want to be like God. We want to be the ultimate authority in our own lives. We want to call the shots and not be accountable to a higher authority. Deep within us is still a poisonous root of rebellion.
Let today be a warning that when you war against God, you will lose 100% of the time, no matter how powerful you think you are. Despite man’s plans, God’s will will always prevail.
Herod’s death is proof positive of that fact. Now, Luke comes full circle with some happy updates about the status of God’s family.
IV- The church encouraged
This is Luke’s 4th status update to Theophilus and his readers.
1- Acts 2:46-47
2- Acts 6:7
3- Acts 9:31
4- Acts 12:24
Church status update
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Was it tragic to lose more brothers and sisters to mounting persecution? Did they mourn James’ death? Of course.
But despite their loss, the church of Jesus Christ continued to grow, and the good news continued to spread.
What an amazing testimony to God’s ability to enact His will no matter the circumstance.
Don’t you want that to be said of you and this church?
Leader status update
Finally, the narrative refocuses on Saul and Barnabas. They had previously dispatched to Judea to deliver the care package from the community in Antioch. Now, they had finished that mission and had returned from Jerusalem, having brought John Mark along with them to Antioch.
And, it is here that we will launch out with these three men on their first missionary journey next week.
Conclusion
May we leave here encouraged by God’s power, grace, and sovereign rule over human history (on a grand scale), and His tender, fatherly care over each and every one of His dear children.
“The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free, and the word of God triumphing. Such is the power of God to overthrow hostile human plans and to establish His own in their place.”
– John Stott, The Message of Acts
Whatever predicament you are facing today, remember that despite man’s plans, God’s will will always prevail.