Peter out of prison

Acts 12:1-10; 9/24/2023; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

 Introduction

A prison is a state apparatus used to detain prisoners.  King Herod, as the representative of Antichrist, attempted to harm the church and believers through prisons.  As a result, God allows us to see another version of the historical drama.  Let’s look at the first point:

 Martyrdom of the Apostle James

When persecution comes, it will not be a flat humanistic perspective, but a spiritual warfare.  All the battles related to the church are related to Satan, because he does not like to see the spread of the gospel, the unity of the church, and the love between brothers and sisters.  First, the nature of the Antichrist dictates it.  How do we know who the Antichrist is?  It’s easy to see their attitude towards the church, right?  King Herod was the puppet supported by the Roman Empire and the agent of the Roman Empire in Judea.  Among them, Herod the Great, whom we often talk about, was called Archelaus, who reigned from 74 BC to 4 AD.  He is the infanticide king we are very familiar with.  Because of his cruelty, even his three sons were killed by him, reported and deposed, and exiled to the Gaul region.  His son, Herod Antipas, was the son of Herod the Great.  He was once named King Herod the Younger, and the fief was still in Galilee.  He was incompetent and made no contributions in his life, but he was famous for two evil deeds.  One is to forcefully marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and the other is to kill John the Baptist.  Antipas ended up in exile similar to Herod the Great.

Second, the apostles gave up their lives to bear the brunt.  The one who killed James in today’s verse was Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of King Herod the Great.  His father was one of the three sons killed by Herod the Great.  He killed James and arrested Peter, and set off a catastrophe to persecute Christians because of his arrogance.  However, we must have an opinion that King Herod is not the protagonist.  The killing of James meant that God’s time had come, and the time to be poured out had come.  It was only right for the apostles to lay down their lives for the Lord.  As the Bible says, a student cannot be higher than a teacher, Christ died for the sheep, and you and I lay down our lives for the Lord, so why not?

Lastly, those who win the hearts of the people want to win the world.  If we want to know why these antichrists like to persecute the church and Christians so much, we can read the third verse: “When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.” (Acts 12:3)   What does this explain?  It shows that antichrists have no interest in matters of faith, or even know nothing about them.  The only thing the Antichrist cares about is their rights.  He got even more excited when he found out that the Jews liked that they were persecuting the Church.  Their core value is to consolidate power, and find that power is better hereditary.  So, from grandfather to grandson and great-grandson, the dictator has been passed down from generation to generation.  Therefore, usually a dictatorship is mostly antichrists.  Under their rule, persecution of the church has become a high probability event.  Let’s look at the second point:

Peter in prison awaiting trial

According to the inertia of the antichrist regime, of course it is self-centered and domineering.  If it wants to deal with you James, it will deal with you Peter!  First, the right not to expire.  Although King Herod was the chief puppet, the Roman emperor still gave him a certain degree of autonomy.  Therefore, the temptation and attraction of power to Herod will also become Herod’s bondage and control.  If a person does not have Christ ruling in his heart,  once he has power, he will definitely oppress the people and harm the church.  When a dictator meets a truth-speaking James with a fiery personality, the killing of James becomes an opportunity for Herod to demonstrate his authority and sense of presence.  Possessing rights and using rights can be two very different things.  This King Herod was Agrippa I, who reigned for only three years (A.D. 41-44).  From the incident of his father being killed by his grandfather  to his participation in the coup of the Roman court and his support of Emperor Claudius, he knew that he had the right to use it or expire it.

Second, unexpected church prayer.  He thought that Peter could also be killed by him like James did.  But what he didn’t expect was that when Peter was imprisoned, the church prayed earnestly for him.  Many people may despise prayer, thinking that prayer is self-talk and useless.  Little do they know that the greatest power of the church is prayer.  Jesus said that it can even move mountains and seas.  How did King Herod know that the prayers of the church this time were not ordinary, responsive prayers, but earnest prayers!  Of course, King Herod was still self-willed and went his own way.  The Bible says:  “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. (Acts 12:4)”  It’s a bit like criminals sentenced to death by the Chinese emperor were executed after the autumnal equinox, the king had a well-thought-out plan and educated the people.

Finally,  chain guards in case of an accident.  This King Herod, namely Agrippa I, experienced the coup in the Roman court and knew the cruelty and change between life and death.  Luke records, saying:  “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. (Acts 12:6)”  He was worried that if something happened when he appeared in court the next day, whether he was robbed from prison or committed suicide, King Herod would lose all face.  Wrapped with two chains, sleeping between two soldiers, it should be foolproof!  Not only that, but there are soldiers guarding the door.  Now you can rest assured, sit back and relax.  However, Humans are not as good as God, and those who fight against God can have endless fun, but the consequences are definitely worrisome.  Let’s look at the third point:

 The angel took him out of prison

The dead end Peter encountered was exactly the time God gave him an opportunity!  When King Herod thought he could rule everything, God made him fall short and lose his plan!   First, God intervened.  King Herod would kill himself for his many unrighteous deeds, and he had the ability to force God to act Himself.  No matter how authoritative King Herod was, he had no power to influence God’s actions.  The Bible says: “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. (Acts 12:7)” Peter should not have fallen asleep, or slept lightly.  Peter should have opened his eyes when the light shone in the prison.  Possibly, at the same time “The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”  All this happened so naturally and orderly, but it was beyond Peter’s imagination.  Believing in God and experiencing God’s actions are two very different things.  This is the difference between the children of God, and the world and Satan.  Those who do not believe in God will not experience God!

Second, angels led.  At this time, “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. (Acts 12:8).”  He was still locked by two iron chains just now, but now he can be released.  As if in Peter’s house, before going out, he tied up his belt, put on his shoes and coat.  Only this time Peter did not go out by himself, but followed the angel.  After all, this time is different from the past.  He is in prison, being bound, and will be brought up to King Herod the next day.  It is believed that King Herod was to pronounce Peter’s death sentence, which was to be carried out after the Passover.  King Herod wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to buy people’s hearts and consolidate his regime.

Finally, Peter came out.  The Bible says: “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. (Acts 12:9)”  It’s really unbelievable, isn’t it?  Beyond Peter’s cognition, it’s hard to believe this is true.  Even Peter thought it was a trance, but just saw a vision.  However, the further Peter walked, the more he felt something was wrong!  Why passing the first and second guards, and he came to the iron gate facing the street.  Strangely, the door opened by itself.  Who opened it?  The Bible says: “ they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. (Acts 12:10)”  Of course Peter recognized the street scene he saw, and he was sure he was out of prison and free.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that Peter’s escape from prison was an act of God, a miracle.  Our God is a God who works wonders alone.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  Peter’s mission had not been completed, God’s time had not yet come, and no one could take Peter’s life away.

Let us pray……

 

Acts 12:1-10

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 

2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 

3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 

4 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.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6 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. 

7 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.

8 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. 

9 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. 

10 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.