LESSON NINE

PETER IN PRISON

ACTS 12:1-16

KEY VERSE: Now behold, an angel of the LORD stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12:7).

JESUS lived HIS LIFE in Galilee, and the major portion of HIS MINISTRY was in Galilee. We have been privileged witnesses to the beginning, growth, development, and spread of CHRISTIANITY (THE CHURCH) beyond Galilee through the EMPOWERMENT AND MINISTRY of the Apostles in response to the PROMISE OF JESUS in Acts 1:8. HE said to them, “You shall receive POWER when THE HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you; and you will be WITNESSES TO ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We witnessed the Coming of THE HOLY SPIRIT on the Day of Pentecost in Chapter 2, when the apostles “were all with one accord in one place” (v.1). This resulted in the apostles being able to speak to every one present and “everyone heard them speak in his own language” (v.6). This allowed Peter to be able to preach a sermon to the people about the life, death, and resurrection of JESUS and how HE was responsible for what they were witnesses of (v.33). “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (vv.37-38). This marked the foundation of the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY in Jerusalem because “those who gladly received HIS WORD were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

However, we saw that as soon as Peter and the apostles began carrying out THE WORKS of THE HOLY SPIRIT, through the healing of a lame man (3:1ff), the Church immediately experienced persecution. For, Peter and John were arrested, appeared before the Sanhedrin Council and threatened and warned “not to speak at all nor teach in THIS NAME (JESUS)” (4:17). Yet we see further that “when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they spoke THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS” (v.30.

Then we saw the spread of the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY among the Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem through Stephen, one of the first seven ‘deacons’ in the Church chosen by the apostles to serve in the daily administrations (Acts 6). “Then THE WORD OF GOD spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the FAITH. And Stephen, full of FAITH AND POWER, did great wonders and signs among the people” (vv.7-8). Once again we see the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY face persecution when Stephen is arrested and made to appear before the Sanhedrin as Peter and John had done (6:9ff). Stephen is even killed and martyred for the sake of the growth of the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY, for the scripture says that “they stoned Stephen as he was calling on god and saying, ‘LORD receive my spirit’” (6:59).

Chapter 8 showed us that as a result of the persecution against the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY in Jerusalem, “they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria...Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere PREACHING THE WORD. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and PREACHED CHRIST to them. And the multitude with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did” (vv.1, 4-6).

Now, once again, we find Peter IMPRISONED as the infant CHURCH spread and faced further persecution.

1. PERSECUTION FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCH (Acts 12:1-4)

As this study opens, we find the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY still under attack, for “Herod the King stretched out his hand to harass some from the CHURCH. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (v.1-2). Further, according to the text, “because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also...so when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him” (vv.3, 4).

While it is not explained in this text, our scripture says, “Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church” (v.1). Some scholars think that the persecution was not necessarily directed toward the apostles because Chapter 8:1 says, “a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.” And verse 12:1 of this study’s text says, Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.” The scholars conclude that while the NEW BELIEVERS left the city, there is no evidence that the apostles fled with them. Also that the reference made in 12:1 is toward the Christian Church leaders.

However, in verse 2, there is a direct contradiction to this point of view because we find that Herod “killed James the brother of John with the sword.” This was the first of the original followers of JESUS, who became one of the twelve disciples chosen by HIM (Luke 6:14-16), to die for the sake of the CHURCH and CHRISTIANITY. “And because he (Herod) saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also” (v.3). Thus, it was simply for the expediency of politics that Herod followed in the path that his father and grandfather who were responsible for the beheading of John the Baptist and the death of JESUS CHRIST. This pattern will be duplicated throughout the growth and development of the church.

2. THE CHURCH IN CONSTANT PRAYER (v.5)

Since the receiving of the HOLY SPIRIT on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles have had an active prayer life that has sustained them. For 2:42 says, “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in PRAYER.” This would serve as the one constant in the life of the BELIEVERS in the church. Whenever they had the opportunity, they went to the temple for prayer (Acts 3:1), and when they were threatened also prayed (4:24). Even in the face of death, we see that prayer was an active part of the life of the BELIEVERS (7:59-60).

No matter what the situation may be, it is always an appropriate time to call on the NAME OF THE LORD for the church. That is because GOD is continually listening from heaven for the cry of HIS children when they are in need or in distress. GOD still hears and answers prayer.

3. THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY SOMEHOW (vv.6-11)

According to verse 4, after arresting Peter and putting him in prison, Herod “delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.” This delay in putting Peter to death was simply a ploy by Herod to patronize the Jewish leaders in regards to the Passover. Herod knew that it would offend the Jews if he executed Peter during this time. So, to make sure that Peter did not escape, Herod stationed guards outside the prison door to stand watch, and even chained two soldiers to both wrists (v.6).

However, we find in the next verses that GOD had other plans for Peter, it was not his time to be offered up for the sake of the Gospel. Therefore THE HOLY SPIRIT sent “an angel of THE LORD” to Peter in prison “and struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands” (v.7). Then the angel told Peter to get dressed and to follow him. According to our text, even though Peter did not know if what he was experiencing with the angel was real, “but thought he was seeing a vision” (v.9b), he still “went out and followed him” (v.9a).

Now there is nothing said about the state or condition of the guards who were chained to Peter. We don’t know if they slept through the entire episode or whether the “angel” did something special to them. We do know that not only did they escape from the two guards on the inside, but also, “When they were past the first and second posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; AND THEY WENT OUT AND WENT DOWN ONE STREET, and immediately the angel departed from him” (v.10).

It was at this point that Peter finally realized that what he had experienced with “the angel of THE LORD” was indeed real, for he said, “Now I know for certain that THE LORD has sent an angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people” (v.11). But Peter had already shown his FAITH AND BELIEF IN GOD by being obedient to the angel even though he “did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision” (v.9).

This is what the LORD requires of all of HIS FAITHFUL BELIEVERS, to understand that no matter how any situation may appear THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY SOMEHOW! We may not know who, what when, where, or how, but we are assured through our FAITH in THE POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS that somehow GOD WILL WORK THINGS OUT ACCORDING TO HIS WILL! The other assurance is incorporated in the ‘why.’ Simply because we belong to HIM. And, because we are obedient to HIS WILL for our lives and will do as we are ‘instructed’ by HIS WORD and THE HOLY SPIRIT.

4. GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER (vv.12-16)

We already know from verse 5 that “constant prayer was offered to GOD for him (Paul) by the church.” It is not coincidental, I propose, that this verse precedes the events that take place inside the prison with Peter and the ANGEL. I believe that there is a direct correlation between the prayers of the church and the angel’s visit to Peter. I propose that GOD dispatched an angel in immediate response to the prayers of the church for Peter. I believe that even as they were in the midst of prayer, GOD sent HIS ANGEL to tend to the needs of HIS CHURCH.

As we continue, we see that Peter was still contemplating the events that had taken place as he “came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together PRAYING” (v.12). This implies that they had been in “constant prayer” from the time Peter had been arrested until that present time, not realizing that GOD was already moving in response to their prayers. I don’t think that they expected GOD to move so quickly, because when Peter arrived at the door of the gate and knocked, “a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate” (vv.13-14).

What happens next is typical of those of us today who call on the NAME OF THE LORD in our situations. When GOD answers our prayers, we sometimes react like those in our text when they received the news of GOD’S DELIVERANCE of Peter. “But they said to her, ‘You are beside yourself!’ Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ‘It is an angel’” (v.15). Isn’t it ironic that they were ready to believe that an angel was at the gate, but could not accept that Peter could be standing there in answer to their prayers? Here they were praying to GOD for Peter’s deliverance but questioned GOD’S ANSWER. For when Peter continued to knock at the gate, “when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (v.16).

I can understand the early church being “astonished” when GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS, but I do not understand how those of us today who call ourselves to be BELIEVERS, and are supposed to have FAITH IN GOD, could allow ourselves to fall into that same state of disbelief when GOD moves in response to our cry. I am of the persuasion that if you pray, why doubt? And if you doubt, why pray? I we don’t believe that GOD truly does HEAR AND ANSWER PRAYER, then there is no need to call on HIM in the first place. JESUS has given us the assurance that “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM, AND YOU WILL HAVE THEM” (Mark 11:24). He also tells us in Matthew 7:7, “ASK, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; KNOCK, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD