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Lessons From Peter’s Persecution: Acts 12:1-19 “Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. 4 And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison” (Acts 12:1-5). The oppression and maltreatment of Peter is clearly evidenced in Acts 12. A survey of the chapter indicates: a wicked king was killing Christians (Acts 12:2), He threw Peter in jail (Acts 12:4), a local church was praying for Peter’s life to be saved (Acts 12:5), many Christian’s were praying at John Mark’s mother’s house [her name was Mary] (Acts 12:12), it was nighttime when these good brethren were praying for Peter (Acts 12:6). Consider 4 lessons we can learn from Peter’s persecution. Lesson 1.) Peter did not lose sleep over his persecutions. Acts 12:6 says, “and when Herod was about to bring him out [I suppose to torture him or kill him], that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers.” Of all the things we can admire about Peter, it is worth our time to note he was able to get deep sleep in prison while chained up between two guards. Sure, he may have had a very rough day and by exhaustion slept— but what a lesson for us for when we face people who chide our faith, or who speak down to us because we worship God. We aught to not lose sleep over the verbal infractions and defamations of our character, for they are far less inflicting than the chains of Peter. Lesson 2.) God can punch off our shackles at the right time. Acts 12:7 says, “Now behold an angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the prison, and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up ,saying, “Arise quickly!” and the chains fell off…” This may be the only passage in the scriptures we have where an angel punches somebody to wake them up. But it sure did happen at the right time for Peter. For Herod was planning to “take out” Peter (Acts 12:6), and the angel smashed the bonds of affliction. Once again, the Lord does the same for us. He may not send an angel to “knock out” the cuss words, anger, gossip, promiscuity, and greed of our friends the first hour we meet people. It may be long into the “twilight hours” of our friendships that we see God’s wonder working power. Shackles are sometimes barriers we have that put us “in the dungeon” so to speak with our friends and acquaintances in the world. But if we keep serving God and being a light, through our good work and example. (Mt.5:14), God will not leave us. Yes, at the right time He can punch off the shakels that stand as barriers between those we’d love to bring to Christ, and those Christ can bring to salvation. Lesson 3.) It Took Time For Salvation to be “real”. Acts 12:9 says that when Peter was freed by the angel, he, “did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.” Once again, that’s life, too. Sometimes it takes a while for God’s saving power to be real to us. And we must be on the look-out and “remember who we are” at these times. Lesson4.) Do something smart when in life’s “city gates or open squares” Acts 12:10 says of Peter and the angel “the iron gate which leads to the city opened of its own Accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed… vs. 12) so when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together praying…” Open squares or city gates of life have a historical “bad rap”, and for good reason. One can see throughout history that the “open squares” were often high profile crime areas and areas filled with sin. Thus in our life, avoid the areas of town where people “go clubbin’” or purchase drugs, etc. Instead do what Peter did after his persecution. He went to a place where people were praying. So, if we are ever near the “city gates” of this 21’s century life— don’t stay there, but go, like Peter and be with brethren (Acts 12:12). By: J.R. Rosado |
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