Two Deaths and a Rescue
King Herod was committing violent acts against members of the church including killing James (brother of John) with a sword. He saw that the Jews were happy about this and then went and arrested Peter as well. Herod is obviously not a man that was seeking God's will. (Acts 12:1-5).
The night before Herod was to have Peter killed, Peter was rescued by an angel of the Lord. The angel tapped him on the side, told him to get up and the chains came off. Peter got dressed and was led out by the angel. The gates to the city opened and the angel disappeared. Peter knew at that point that he was rescued by an angel of the Lord. Peter appeared to others and told them to be quiet about his rescue so that he would not be found. Then he went off to another place. When Herod found out that Peter was no longer in prison, he had the sentries (guards) killed (Acts 12:6-19).
Herod was upset with the people of Tyre and Sidon and they sought for peace with Herod because they got their food from Herod's country. They needed him. The day that he gave an oration (speech) them, the people shouted "The voice of God and not of a man." Herod took pride in that. They were saying that Herod was like a god and was not like a man. Herod took all the credit and God struck him down. The word of God continued to spread and Barnabas and Saul came back from serving and brought back Mark (Acts 12:20-25).
What I learned in this chapter is that a person seeking to do God's will (like Peter) can be rescued. Also, just because you are doing God's will does not mean evil people won't hate you and come after (like James). Lastly, I learned that evil men will be struck down by God as Herod was.
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Further Development of the Church
Peter met with the members of the church and told them about the Gentiles (non Jewish people) who had received the word of God. The brothers and sisters accused Peter of not being a faithful Christian Jew because he ate with Gentiles and they were uncircumcised at that. Peter tells them of the vision he had that allowed him to see that God had no distinction or partiality when it came to who could receive the word of God. Through this the church members were able to understand that everyone, including Gentiles, could receive the word of God. No partiality (Acts 11:1-18).
The Church in Antioch (which was far away) was growing. While there Barnabus and Saul met with other believers and taught for a year and it was also there at Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians. A prophet named Agaubus warned of a great famine that was coming to all the earth. he disciples determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea and they sent that relief by Barnabus and Saul., Everyone pitched in according to their ability (Acts 11:19-30).
From this chapter I have pulled out that when it comes to the word of God and the life and resurrection of Christ, there is no partiality. It does not matter what you look like. You can receive the word of God regardless of the outside. The word will stick based on the inside. I also learned that this was the the first recorded relief effort from one group of people helping another group of people. That takes love and concern and selfless care for others. We need that when there is a national or worldwide disaster. We need that kind of selfless giving on weekdays, weekends and holidays. We need that more often. Love takes no days off.
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Saul's Turn of Faith
Saul is the same man who was imprisoning Christians and he is the same man who had an apostle stoned to death. You would not say that Saul was a man after God's heart. You would not say that Saul was a "good person." But, you also can't say Saul's story is over and he has no chance for redemption.
While he was still searching for more Christians to imprison, a light from Heaven shone down on him. A voice started speaking and asked why Saul was persecuting him. Saul did not know who it was and the voice revealed itself to be that of Jesus. The men Saul was with heard the voice too but did not see anyone just as Saul did not. Saul was blinded and could not eat or drink for three days (Acts 9:1-9).
A man named Ananias was told by God to go to Damascus (where Jesus sent Saul). Ananias was told to go there because Saul (whom Ananias knew of) was there praying and had a vision of a man named Ananias who was to lay hands on him and heal his sight. God said in verse 15, "he is a chosen instrument of mine." God also said that Saul would have to suffer in God's name. Ananias did as he was told and Saul's sight was restored, he was baptized and finally was able to eat and drink.
Saul began proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God to people in Damascus and the people plotted to kill him. He escaped out of Damascus and tried to join the disciple who of course did not believe him. Barnabas spoke up for Saul and told of the light being shone on him and of Saul spreading the word of Christ in Damascus (Acts 9:19-31). When God wants to use someone, he will not pick someone who is perfect, but He will choose those whom He sees as able, even one who had persecuted and murdered Christ followers.
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