InterVarsity Talk: Acts 12

Tonight’s Theme: “But The Word Of God Increased And Multiplied” (12:24)

Theme Verse: Proverbs 28:9- “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

Main Point: Prayer and the Word of God are always connected together; when they are kept together the Word of God is increased and multiplied.

The context of Acts 12 is important. In fact, The context is stressed by the opening words of Acts 12:1, “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.”. In Acts 11 the Spirit is revealing that there would be a great famine in Jerusalem. In response to this the Gentile churches sent relief to Jerusalem by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (11:27-30) This faithful response to what the Spirit was saying, the Word of God, was completed in Acts 12:25.

This context shows us that the church in Jerusalem is facing lots of trials at this time. They are experiencing a famine, the leadership of the church is being imprisoned, James has been killed, the community is happy about this, Peter is arrested and awaiting execution, persecution may increase.

This is not the first time the church in Jerusalem has faced persecution. They experienced persecution after Stephen was killed. That persecution only ended after the LORD saved Saul- the apostle Paul. Afterward, we read these words in Acts 9:31, “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Spirit, it multiplied.” During peace a lot of good things happened to the church.

• Acts 12 shows us that pressure and persecution can also build up the church, help us fear the LORD, receive comfort from the Spirit, and be multiplied.

(Question: We all want to experience a life of peace, prosperity, and pleasure; but Christians are not promised these things. Truth is, we will experience both. Do we accept the fact that difficult Providences provide benefits to believers? (James 1:2-4) Who is an example to you of how to suffer well as a Christian? In the last month I have had three people curse God because of difficult Providences, but there are faithful people around us who won’t do this.)

In Acts 12 the peace that the church had enjoyed is ending when ‘Herod laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church’ (1) and James, the brother of John, was killed. (2) When Stephen was killed (Acts 7) it sparked the flames of persecution which spread. (7:54-8:3) Therefore, one would be concerned that this would happen now that James had been killed.

(Question: What would you do in this type of situation? Flee, isolate, despair, or come together and pray as a church?)

At this time it appeared that persecution would increase because Herod saw that this pleased the people (2,4,11). We read in verse 3, “...and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.” Peter was arrested during the days of unleavened bread so Herod could not immediately kill Peter. He was kept in prison and four squads of soldiers guarded him. From the churches perspective it must have seemed that nothing could be done to keep Peter from being executed. At the end of Acts 11 we saw that the church raised money to help during a famine, but in this situation it seemed like there is nothing that could be done to prevent this.

(Question: Do you remember to pray when you need too? Who do you know that is faithful to pray that you could learn to follow their example and be encouraged by answered prayer?)

Acts 12:5 says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest (ceaseless) prayer for him was made to God by the church.” The contrasting conjunction is IMPORTANT. Let me emphasize this in two ways.

#1 Christians Are To Live By Faith: Let me make 3 observations about the first part of verse 5, ‘Peter was kept in prison’. The verb ‘kept’ is a passive, imperfect, and indicative verb.

• The passive verb stresses that Peter was being kept in prison by others against his will. He had been arrested and was being restrained by guards, chains, prison walls and iron gates. All of these things prevented him from escaping or from being rescued.

• The imperfect verb speaks of the fact that these guards kept Peter imprisoned continually, consistently, and actively. They restrained him from leaving by keeping alert, proactive, and faithful to do their job. The guards were diligent, dutiful, and determined to deliver Peter over to the executioner.

• The indicative verb refers to the fact that Peter was being kept until the day of his execution. There was only one objective in the end- Peter’s death and the amusement of the people.

What could the church do for Peter in this hopeless situation?

They knew all of these faith stealing facts: James had been killed, this made many people happy, Peter was arrested, he was kept by four squads of guards, Herod intended to kill him soon, after this persecution would intensify. On the other hand, they did not know what God was doing (Acts 11) or would do.

• How would you react if you were in this situation?

• How would your church react in this situation?

• Does your church have a time set aside for prayer? Are you a part of it?

All of these facts could have made the church hopelessness, but notice the contrasting conjunction. (5) No, we read, “...but earnest (ceaseless) prayer for him was made to God by the church.” The church did not despair. They did not fall into depression. They did not disperse and decline. Notice that the churches response was equal to, or even greater than, the actions of the soldiers. What a great example for us to follow.

Just as the soldiers had their responsibility, the church had a responsibility to continually, repeatedly, and ceaselessly pray for Peter. (David’s example in Psalm 35:13-14) In verse 6 we are told that Peter is still in prison right up until the moment that ‘Herod was about to bring him out’. The guards had kept Peter guarded and in chains throughout this time (6); however, the church kept praying. (5, 12) The enemies of a Christian are going to faithfully push against the people of God, but Christians are to respond to these things with faith which receives God’s grace that is appropriate for that moment.

#2 Christians Are To Live By Faith: Notice what verse 5 does not say.

• I will also emphasize this by keeping the first 6 words of this verse the same and then replace the conjunction ‘but’ with ‘and’.

  • I will use the word ‘and’ to emphasize the fact that if a christian DOES NOT walk by faith they will naturally respond in ways that come natural to their flesh.

  • However, if a christian DOES respond with faith they will live a life in total contrast to the way the flesh would normally respond.

Our text does not say,

• So Peter was kept in prison, and the church grumbled and complained against this hard providence.

• So Peter was kept in prison, and the church gave up in despair and hopelessness.

• So Peter was kept in prison, and the church cursed God and abandoned the faith.

• So Peter was kept in prison, and the church became disillusioned and angry at God.

(Question: Do you want your Christian life to be described and characterized with an ‘and’ or with the contrasting conjunction ‘but’?)

In Acts 12:5 the church responds with faith and trust in God, “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest (ceaseless) prayer for him was made to God by the church.” Question: What would have happened if they neglected this means of grace? They would have grumbled, complained, despaired, hopeless, angry, disillusioned, and been tempted to abandon the faith. (Hebrews 3 and 4)

(Question: Look at 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 and Philippians 4:10-13 and you will see that there is a growing process to learn to consistently respond in faith and not react according to the flesh. At our church we encourage people to look for signs that their faith has shifted from trust in God and His Word to trusting in anything else.)

• What are some symptoms that your faith has shifted away from God and His Word in your life?

• What should your response to this be in that particular situation?

Verse 6 tells us that Peter was sleeping so it does not appear that his faith had shifted off of the LORD! Would you be able to sleep if you were to be executed in the morning? Peter did not always respond this way: Matthew 8:23-27, 26:51-55. I bet the churches prayers helped in this moment.

One of Two Examples Of Prayers: Peter would have been praying during this time too. What might Peter’s prayers sounded like? Perhaps he prayed Psalm 3:1-2, saying, “O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.’” If the guards heard Peter pray this they may have said, “There is no salvation for you in God. Tomorrow you will be executed.”

Despite these words Peter could have meditated on Psalm 3:3-8 as he laid down to sleep, saying, “But You (Here is another contrasting conjunction), O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!”

(Question: Do you have specific bible texts to help you pray in your situation? If not, take some time to find those passages to pray through every day. I once asked someone who was really struggling with something if they had some bible verses they were depending upon. They said, “Yes, the whole bible!” That sounds great but we need to think of specific texts and verses that help us in these moments.)

Two of Two Examples of Prayers: Let’s consider how the church may have prayed. They could have used a text like Psalm 140. We read,

Deliver (Peter), O Lord, from evil men;    preserve (Peter) from violent men,who plan evil things in their heart    and stir up wars continually.

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,    and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

Guard (Peter), O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;    preserve (Peter) from violent men,    who have planned to trip up his feet.The arrogant have hidden a trap for him,    and with cords they have spread a net;    beside the way they have set snares for your church. Selah

We say to the Lord, You are our God;    give ear to the voice of our pleas for mercy, O Lord!O Lord, our Lord, the strength of our salvation,    you have covered our head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;    do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

As for the head of those who surround us,    let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!Let burning coals fall upon them!    Let them be cast into fire,    into miry pits, no more to rise!Let not the slanderer be established in the land;    let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,    and will execute justice for the needy.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;    the upright shall dwell in your presence.

(Question: If individual Christians prayed the scriptures like this we would never not know how to pray the scriptures when we come together as a congregation. What can you do to cultivate scriptural prayers when your congregation prays?)

Acts 12:7-11 describes how the LORD responded to the churches prayers, “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Theological Observation:

• The same God who gives grace to awaken some, will also make others slumber!

• The same God who gives light to some, will also darken the hearts of others.

• The same God who saves some from danger, will see that others fall into their own deadly traps. (This is what will happen in Acts 12:18-24) Proverbs 28:9- “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

We read in Acts 12:12-17, “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 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. 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!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 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.”

In Acts 12:18-23 we see that the LORD ends up judging all those who were involved in these things. In verses 18-19 Herod kills the soldiers who guarded Peter. In Acts 12:20-23 we see that even Herod will die when the LORD judges him.

Our text ends with these words in Acts 12:24, “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” Through these things we have seen that the Word of God increased in two ways. First, the Word of God increased in the hearts of the congregation as they used it in prayer. Secondly, we see that as a result of this the word of God increased and multiplied in the world.