November 21, 2021
Acts 12:1-19a
“Prayerful Prison Break”
Service Overview: Progress often invites persecution. The progress and fruitfulness of the early church was no exception. And the early church’s response to persecution should inspire ours as well if we are ever persecuted. Prayer is powerful, as God has a proclivity to respond to it by breaking chains, releasing prisoners, and setting free those who trust Jesus.
Memory Verse for the Week: “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. ” Psalm 37:39 (NIV)
Background Information:
- We must stop a moment to discuss Herod. The name—actually, a title, like Caesar—appears frequently in the New Testament, and we may think it’s always the same person. It isn’t! There was a Herodian dynasty of kings by that name or title. (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Acts, 109)
- This king was not the Herod who slaughtered the infants at the time of the birth of Jesus, Herod the Great. In fact, it is the grandson of Herod the Great, the first Herod Agrippa. When Herod the Great died, his dominion was separated into four parts, each with its own ruler called a tetrarch, which means “ruler of a fourth.” We find tetrarchs, such as Philip, mentioned in the New Testament. Each tetrarch was an immediate descendant of Herod the Great. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 176)
- He persecuted the Christians in order to please the Jewish leaders who opposed them, hoping to solidify his position. Agrippa is mentioned in the Bible only in this chapter. He died suddenly in AD. 44 (see 12:20-23), a fact also recorded by the historian Josephus. (Grant R. Osborne, Acts, 201)
- Herod Agrippa I was an utterly wicked man. He was descended from the Maccabean Jewish kings through his mother. She had him reared in Rome after his father ‘s murder. After a very checkered career, including bankruptcy and prison, the Emporer Caligula released him in A.D. 37 and placed him over two Palestinian tetrarchies. In A.D. 41, Claudius Caesar added Judea to his domain . In order to curry favor with the Jews, he deferred to their religious scruples and himself observed ceremonial worship and practices. He was an unscrupulous politician. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 132)
- The seven days of “unleavened bread” were beginning when Peter was arrested. He was therefore kept in prison for the duration of the festal period. Agrippa’s intention was to bring him out for trial and public execution immediately after this period had expired. But, knowing how many sympathizers, secret as well as open, the apostles had in Jerusalem, he took special precautions against any attempt to free the prisoner. (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 256)
- A squad had four soldiers in it, so there were sixteen guards for one spiritual leader who had broken no law. A bit of background study heightens how these guards would have functioned. They probably served on three-hour watches, with two guards chained to the prisoner and two at the door. If the four squads meant a rotation of four men every three hours, that was precaution enough, but it may have meant that there were sixteen at a time! (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 198)
The question to be answered is…
Why is it God rescued Peter and not James? Or in other words, why does God seem to answers some prayers and not others?
Answer…
God answers all prayer. Sometimes however, the answer is simply no. God’s desire is that his people pray, but his response to those prayers always reflects the greater plan he alone is privy to.
The word of the day is… Pray
What’s important to note about prayer and the sovereignty of God from this account?
- How prayer served as the “go-to” in the arsenal of the early church in tough times.
(v.5 | Matthew 5:44; 18:20; Acts 1:14; Ephesians 1:16 Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:8)
It was a discouraging time for the church in Jerusalem. King Herod had discovered how to gain popularity and support from the Jews by persecuting the Christians. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 197)
There a considerable number of believers had assembled and were praying. Notice that after several days, people were still praying day and night for Peter. Faithful prayer marked the Early Church and kept them in touch with God. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Locations 5151-5153)
- How prayer prompted God’s action in accordance with his greater plan for the church.
(v.11 | Psalm 115:3; 135:6; Proverbs 19:21; Job 42:2; John 15:7; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 1:11)
“The angel fetched Peter out of prison,” said the Puritan preacher Thomas Watson, “but it was prayer that fetched the angel.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 362)
Overshadowing the schemes of evil men is the Lord’s unseen hand. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 133)
- How God’s sovereign answer to their prayers surprised even them.
(vv. 15-16 | Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7; Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6-7; 1 John 5:14-15)
The Lord shares our sorrows and never laughs at us. But surely He laughs with us when we discover that our sense of unanswered prayer in a situation was only that we had not recognized the answer He’d given already. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 196)
When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not they don’t. William Temple (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 207)
Conclusion…How can a text like this inform, influence, and impact our prayer life?
A. By prompting us to prioritize prayer in the rhythms of our lives.
(Matthew 5:6; Luke 12:34; Romans 12:2, 12; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)
It is good to know that, no matter how difficult the trials or how disappointing the news. God is still on the throne and has everything under control. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 362)
The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer. F. B. Meyer (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 204)
Nineteenth-century evangelist Dwight L. Moody observed, “Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking, but the only way to trouble God is not to come at all.” (Thomas J. Ramundo, The Prayer Life You’ve Always Wanted, 3)
B. By being intentional when it comes to praying with and for others.
(Matt. 18:20; Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 10:24-25; James 5:13-16; Jude 1:20)
The phrase “but prayer” is the turning point in the story. Never underestimate the power of a praying church! (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 362)
The church is the army that marches on its knees. As God’s people pray for each other, we enfold one another and others in the power of prayer. (Thomas J. Ramundo, The Prayer Life You’ve Always Wanted, 67)
Continuous prayer was being offered for Peter by the church of Jerusalem—the supplication of righteous people which “has great power in its effects” (Jas. 5:16). And while they were persevering in fervent prayer during what, in Agrippa’s intention, was to be Peter’s last night on earth, their prayer, unknown to themselves, was receiving an effective answer. (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 257)
C. By reminding us to never give up praying! Regardless the outcome, God wins, and in Christ, you do too!
(Psalm 34:17; Luke 1:37; 18:1; Romans 8:26-28; Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 5:7)
God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials. Instead, they are his perfect timing for our greater good and his greatest glory. (Thomas J. Ramundo, The Prayer Life You’ve Always Wanted, 47)
How do you know when you’re walking in the Spirit? You know it when you’re living a life of prayer, because prayer is the proof of dependence on the Spirit. (Tony Evans, The Fire That Ignites, 50)
The formula for creative intercessory prayer is: listen carefully, ask boldly, trust completely, and know that the answer is part of the tapestry of God’s greater plan. He uses everything for His glory and our growth, if we allow Him. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 199)
Gospel Application…
The good news of Jesus is that he is still in the business of breaking chains and freeing those who turn in faith to him.
(John 8:36; Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 2:20; 5:1, 13; 1 Peter 2:16)
The greater miracle, of course, is the one of which Charles Wesley sang:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eyes diffused a quick’ning ray.
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
(Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 135)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Try to put yourself in Peter’s sandals. What do you think it was like to be led out of jail by an angel?
- How did the Christians who had gathered to pray for Peter (and who knew about James’s death) respond when he appeared at the door (1 2:12-17)?
- What is something that stood out to you in particular about today’s text? What about it stood out to you and why?
- What are your prayer rhythms? How does your prayer life reflect those of the early believers?
Quotes to note…
There is a certain sense in which we ought always to be amazed by grace so that we never presume upon God. The astonishment here was born not of faith but of unbelief. They could not believe that God had provided the very thing that they had asked for. Are we any different? (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 180-181)
Be careful, however, not to worship the early church. The night before Herod was to bring [Peter] to trial (12:6), God worked a miracle that no one—not even the early Christians—could believe. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
There is a great deal to be learned here from what did not happen to James and what did happen to Peter later in this chapter. Imagine being a part of both prayer meetings. The church surely had prayed as fervently for James as they did for Peter. The church may have been praying at the same location, involving most of the same people, perhaps even the same servant girl (Rhoda—see 12:1-3). Peter was miraculously set free. James, however, was killed with the sword (referring to beheading). Was there something wrong with the way the believers prayed for James as opposed to Peter? The wrong words? Scriptures? posture? Was there not enough faith? Did God love Peter more than James? The answer to all these questions is, of course, no, but they are the kinds of questions Christians invariably ask when faced with such a clear example of the contrasting will of God for two lives. The sovereign choices of God in the lives of these two apostles—equally loved by God, needed by the church, and missed by their friends and family—should teach believers to trust God more. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 203)
It is good to know that, no matter how difficult the trials or how disappointing the news. God is still on the throne and has everything under control. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 362)
Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, but then commanded His disciples to gather up the leftovers. He raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead, then told her parents to give her something to eat. Even in miracles, God is always practical. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 362)
One of the great problems we all face is not how to pray, but what to pray. When a person we love is troubled, we wonder what is best. We are reluctant to be specific in our intercession because we fear telling God what we think best. We get into the muddle of what’s our will versus what is God’s will, as if the two could not be the same. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 198)
There is unremitting mystery in the providences of God in the lives of His people. Why did James die violently when Peter would be miraculously spared? Surely the same power which delivered Peter could have spared James and Stephen! There are times when the case appears to be one of “truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne!” We do not have answers to our questions. What we do have is the assurance that God watches and cares, and that the Unseen Hand is at the controls. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 133)
[God] is all-powerful to deal with each situation according to a greater plan than we can fathom. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 199)
The Lord answers all prayer. Knowing so much more than we do. He grants some, refuses others, and delays still others. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 204)
