484 – Governmental Persecution of the Church

SEMESTER 6

484 – Governmental Persecution of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 84
GOVERNMENTAL PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH

Read Acts 12:1-25.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The persecution of Acts chapters 7 through 9 was essentially religious, by the Judaizers.
2. In Acts 12 we see that the king is getting involved.
3. We may rightly conclude that God arranges this to show His power. (Acts 12:23, Rom. 9:22-23)

I. THE MURDER OF THE APOSTLE JAMES

1. Two apostles were named James. (Matt. 10:2-3)
2. The one under consideration in Acts 12 is the son of Zebedee, for he was John’s brother. (Acts 12:2)
3. Epistle dating assures us that the James of Acts 15:13 and the writer of the epistle of James was “James the Less,” the son of Alphaeus.
4. Little is known of James’ supposed offense, or imprisonment. Herod simply had him killed with the sword. (Acts 12:1-2)

II. THE IMPRISONMENT OF PETER

1. To show the Christian hating Jews a pleasure, Herod also arrested Peter. (Acts 12:3)
2. He arrested Peter somewhere between the 15th and 21st of Abib (our April).
3. This period, called Passover, the 14th of the month, and unleavened bread, the 15th through the 21st, was a holy season during which execu­tions etc., were not popular with the Jews.
4. For this reason Herod purposed to hold Peter, for execution, until this season was past. (Acts 12:4)
5. The night before Herod would have executed Peter, God miraculous­ly freed him. (Acts 12:6-11)
6. Ironically, the people who prayed for Peter were astonished when God answered. (Acts 12:16, Acts 12:12-17)

III. HEROD’S PERSECUTION TURNS AGAINST HIM

1. This miracle turned against Herod and his jailers, so that he killed them to cover up Peter’s release. (Acts 12:18-19)
2. Apparently, this embarrassment occasioned his removal from Judah to Caesarea. (Acts 12:19)
3. The Jews of Tyre and Sidon had fallen into disrepute with Herod the Jewish king.
4. This new venue of Herod gave them opportunity to seek re-instatement with him. (Acts 12:20-22)
5. In their flattery of Herod, probably still seeking his further per­secution of the church they flattered him, attributing to him divine oratory. (Acts 12:22)
6. At this point God smote him with worms so that he was immediately consumed from within. (Acts 12:23)
7. What a commentary is Acts 12 on God’s ability to protect His church as He pleases, or to let His people die for Him when He sees fit.

Conclusion: It is no accident that this narrative begun in Acts 12:1, ends with the church’s victory in Acts 12:24-25.