Acts 12
While reading through Acts 12 I was recently struck by an interesting detail. Grab your Bible and allow me to explain.
In Acts 11 Peter proclaims that the door of the gospel had been opened not only to the Jews, but also to the gentiles. This was (and is) a glorious truth! However, not everyone shared this enthusiasm.
The then earthly king – King Herod – decided that he was going to put a stop to this little uprising. And so, “he laid violent hands on those who belonged to the church” (12:1). Having “killed James” he proceeded to “arrest Peter also” (12:2).
But God will have the last word.
You see, Acts chapter 12 continues by describing the events of Peter’s miraculous release from prison. It is an exciting and somewhat comical story. Suffice it to say, a clear theme emerges when you notice the series of doors that are opened – “somehow” – of their own accord. It is wonderfully told, and brilliantly executed.
Following the opening of the doors of the prison (verse 5) and the opening of the “iron gate” of the city (verse 10), there is a comical drama that occurs at the gate of John Mark’s house. The Christians in that region were gathered praying - calling out to God on behalf of Peter. Here, at the door of the Christian’s gathering place, we come to a door that doesn’t open as easily as the previous ones had.
But, of course, God will have the last word – and the door eventually does open (12:12-17).
Besides acknowledging the fact that God is the one who opens doors (which is a very heartening reality), what makes this passage so surprising is the Lord’s timing.
Herod had arrested Peter during the feast of unleavened bread – a feast that lasted 7 days. Peter had been imprisoned for the duration of this festival, but we are told that at the conclusion of the Passover festivities Herod had planned on bringing Peter “out to the people” (12:4). However (and here is where it gets interesting), “when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night” God opened the doors of the prison.
Why did God wait until that moment to rescue Peter? Indeed, Luke wants us to consider this, because he goes out of his way to indicate that it was “that very night.”
Clearly, God could have brought Peter out at any time during the feast. Indeed, he could have done it the first night of the feast – which would have more accurately corresponded to Israel’s release from Egypt. But he waited. What did He wait for?
Peter was about to be brought to the people by Herod, but it was God who actually brought Peter out to the people. Ostensibly either way Peter was going to be brought to the people on the very same day – but (and here is the key) it mattered who released him.
It is so very easy for us to minimize this difference in our own lives. We live, moment to moment, hoping for each situation to give way to ideal outcomes. In life we want certain results. The problem is when we want those results regardless of how it happens. We function according to the adage that ‘the ends justify the means.’ But the truth is – for the Christian – the means is the important part. It matters who is accomplishing those ends.
Herod lived for his own gory. He lived for his own word – thinking that he would, like a sovereign king, determine his own end. But it is God who has the final word. He opens doors and He also closes them. And so, in chapter 12 we learn about Herod’s gloriously pitiful end. Luke underscores his point by declaring that “an angel of the Lord struck [Herod] down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (12:23).
Instead of focusing on the end (this is certainly a defining mark of Western culture – we are “results” driven), let’s stop, right in this moment, and recognize Who is currently at work to bring about His purposes. Let’s be sure to give glory today to our faithful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, it matters who you glorify as the one opening and closing the doors before you. He knows the end from the beginning (and everything in between).
And with Paul, in Romans 11:36, we can declare, “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen!”
Blessings,
Pastor Tony
In Acts 11 Peter proclaims that the door of the gospel had been opened not only to the Jews, but also to the gentiles. This was (and is) a glorious truth! However, not everyone shared this enthusiasm.
The then earthly king – King Herod – decided that he was going to put a stop to this little uprising. And so, “he laid violent hands on those who belonged to the church” (12:1). Having “killed James” he proceeded to “arrest Peter also” (12:2).
But God will have the last word.
You see, Acts chapter 12 continues by describing the events of Peter’s miraculous release from prison. It is an exciting and somewhat comical story. Suffice it to say, a clear theme emerges when you notice the series of doors that are opened – “somehow” – of their own accord. It is wonderfully told, and brilliantly executed.
Following the opening of the doors of the prison (verse 5) and the opening of the “iron gate” of the city (verse 10), there is a comical drama that occurs at the gate of John Mark’s house. The Christians in that region were gathered praying - calling out to God on behalf of Peter. Here, at the door of the Christian’s gathering place, we come to a door that doesn’t open as easily as the previous ones had.
But, of course, God will have the last word – and the door eventually does open (12:12-17).
Besides acknowledging the fact that God is the one who opens doors (which is a very heartening reality), what makes this passage so surprising is the Lord’s timing.
Herod had arrested Peter during the feast of unleavened bread – a feast that lasted 7 days. Peter had been imprisoned for the duration of this festival, but we are told that at the conclusion of the Passover festivities Herod had planned on bringing Peter “out to the people” (12:4). However (and here is where it gets interesting), “when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night” God opened the doors of the prison.
Why did God wait until that moment to rescue Peter? Indeed, Luke wants us to consider this, because he goes out of his way to indicate that it was “that very night.”
Clearly, God could have brought Peter out at any time during the feast. Indeed, he could have done it the first night of the feast – which would have more accurately corresponded to Israel’s release from Egypt. But he waited. What did He wait for?
Peter was about to be brought to the people by Herod, but it was God who actually brought Peter out to the people. Ostensibly either way Peter was going to be brought to the people on the very same day – but (and here is the key) it mattered who released him.
It is so very easy for us to minimize this difference in our own lives. We live, moment to moment, hoping for each situation to give way to ideal outcomes. In life we want certain results. The problem is when we want those results regardless of how it happens. We function according to the adage that ‘the ends justify the means.’ But the truth is – for the Christian – the means is the important part. It matters who is accomplishing those ends.
Herod lived for his own gory. He lived for his own word – thinking that he would, like a sovereign king, determine his own end. But it is God who has the final word. He opens doors and He also closes them. And so, in chapter 12 we learn about Herod’s gloriously pitiful end. Luke underscores his point by declaring that “an angel of the Lord struck [Herod] down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (12:23).
Instead of focusing on the end (this is certainly a defining mark of Western culture – we are “results” driven), let’s stop, right in this moment, and recognize Who is currently at work to bring about His purposes. Let’s be sure to give glory today to our faithful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, it matters who you glorify as the one opening and closing the doors before you. He knows the end from the beginning (and everything in between).
And with Paul, in Romans 11:36, we can declare, “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen!”
Blessings,
Pastor Tony
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