How to Face Persecution
Acts 12:1-24
Jan. 8, 2023
VS 1 – “violent hands”: The level of violence expressed is to kill. Herod was out for blood.
VS 3 – “He saw … it pleased the Jews”: Violent men act off the reactions of other’s motives as well as their own.
VS 5 – “earnest prayer… to God… By the church”: Earnest meaning a deep fervency. A deep agony for the will of God to come to pass. Prayer is the church’s responsibility to put into practice.
VS 7 – “struck”: Peter was in a deep sleep. A state of peace only found in the Lord.
VS 9-11 – “was real… came to himself”: When God is moving it’s hard for us to see if in fact God is the one moving. Then when we stop for a second and get clarity we see and understand God was with us the whole time.
VS 11 – “I am sure… the Lord… Rescued me”: God can do the impossible. Who can withstand the will of God?
VS 15 – “you are out of your mind”: Where they praying in belief? Why did God answer their prayer if they were not believing in their prayer?
Because God is Faithful!
“They were discovering that God ‘is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’
(Eph. 3:20).” – David G. Peterson
VS 16 – “It is his angel”: Reference to Guardian angel who they believe to take on the
appearance of those they are guarding/looking over.
`VS 19` – “put to death”: Roman law was to receive the punishment of those being guarded if the prisoner was to escape. (Reference Acts 16 with Paul and the Philippian jailor)
VS 23 – “struck him down… he did not give God the glory”: How often do we receive God’s
mercy when we don’t give the glory and honor back to Him? Are we looking for the
reward/praise of men or as eternal reward from God?
VS 24 – “the word of God increased and multiplied”: More and more people are being saved through the Love, Grace, and Mercy of God our Father.