Acts 12 Herod Agrippa I Persecutes the Church


Overarching theme: God’s power on display to ensure the growth of the church.

1.   Peter set free

2.   Herod struck down


Amidst weakness God’s strength abounds (2 Cor 12).


I. Insights into Acts 12:1-24


12:1 Herod Agrippa…Family ties…Herod the Great …Herod Antipas


Rising to power…Mariamne…Caligula…Claudius …Agrippa ruled 41-44AD


Pharisees liked Agrippa…Hasmonean descendant…kept Jewish customs


Josephus quote…Mishna quote


12:2 James the son of Zebedee…one of the 12…not brother of Jesus…Mark 10:39


12:3 Feast of Unleavened Bread…Passover…springtime…7 days …execute Peter


12:3 Why is Agrippa so strongly opposed to the church?…Jewish constituency The Jewish Christians were progressively moving away from true commitment to God and country: Samaritans (Philip), then God-fearing Gentiles (Peter) and now pagan Gentiles (Saul and Barnabas).


12:4 Roman guards…Antonia Fortress…added security…escape in 5:17-42


10th anniversary…Peter’s thoughts?


12:11 “the favor of all the people.” (2:47)…a distant reality


12:12 House of Mary…mother of John Mark…someone of means…


Recall Acts 8…Greek-speaking Jewish Christians…Hebrew speaking Jewish Christians


John Mark…Paul and Barnabas…gospel writer…fell out of favor with Paul


12:13 Rhoda


12:15 fervent prayer…doubtful prayer…Angels


Peter and Prisons: Acts 4 Peter is stays in jail…Acts 5 miraculously freed


12:17 “Tell James”…James the brother of Jesus…Peter flees to an unknown place


For now on others will take center stage: Paul and his mission to the Gentiles.


12:24 “But the word of God continued to spread.”…third time…6:7…9:31


II. Peter and Prayer


Fervent prayer and Doubting prayer


Why didn’t he save James? Why did he save Peter? God’s sovereign plan.


Faith is central…Hebrews 11…Faith gets God’s attention


Jesus is amazed by great faith (Luke 7:9 centurion) and great lack of faith (Mark 6:6 hometown)


III. Herod and Heresy


12:21 Agrippa heads to Caesarea…Luke’s outrageous account is verified by Josephus


Herod Agrippa’s crimes? 1. calling himself God and 2. Opposing the work of God


The heresy of Herod is all humanity’s sin…Genesis 3


Brian McClaren: what is your worldview?


IV. Themes Emphasized by the Author Luke


Modern-day movie director…directing a story toward…Peter’s ministry…Paul’s ministry


John Stott