Bible Study - Acts 12: 1-25

(Today's reading is broken into 2 parts)

Read Acts chapter 12 verses 1-20

We often imagine that in the early days of the Christian church it was all 'signs and wonders', but the reality must have been much less of a great party and more of a desperate struggle.

The name 'Christian' was originally a term of abuse - the early believers were just 'scum' in the eyes of the Jews and the Roman authorities. Religion and politics were intermingled and after getting rid of Jesus, his followers needed to be tracked and, if necessary, destroyed.

Peter was in and out of jail more often than you have had hot dinners. This man was trouble. But Peter kept going. He didn't apologise for being a pain in the neck of the Jewish leaders and the Romans. So, where did this a radical, campaigning force for justice come from? Peter was quite simply tuned into God's will. He listened to the Holy Spirit - that incredible, supernatural influence on a formerly weak-willed human being. He felt like God would feel, he saw how God would see things; he talked as God would talk.

Picture the scene in your mind. Peter is squashed between two burly Roman guards, when a blinding light wakes him. He's told to get up and get dressed and the guards sleep while he puts on his robe and sandals, then he walks out of the prison. No blasts of dynamite, no running, no chasing. A bit of cheeky really.

And as all this is going on, Peter checks to see if it's all a dream. Understandable! It happens with Christians today too. We see God change peoples' lives and we talk about the power of prayer and the ability of God to heal, yet we often wouldn't recognise a modern-day miracle if it came up and smacked us on the face.

It's funny how when we are in the midst of trouble it is so difficult to see God at work. Here was Peter miraculously released from jail suddenly realising that he is free. God had sent an angel and rescued him, yet it is only when Peter realises that he is out that he acknowledges God's hand in it. And he's not the only one who is surprised.

He arrives at Mary's house where they have been praying for Peter and his release. Peter's arrival is their answer to prayer but they do not believe it. "You are crazy" they tell the servant girl. They pray but do not expect action, at least not like this.

Peter no doubt prayed for release from his dire position in jail. Peter's friends prayed for release. God did it and all were surprised at the outcome. When you pray, expect that God will somehow work, ask for what you truly desire and God may give it to you. Remember that often, at the moment when God answers we may not see it. After he has explained to them what happened he tells them to tell others the story in order to encourage them.

Whilst God's answer released Peter it had very different consequences for the non-believers. The soldiers tried to make sense of it, but couldn't. Herod tried to undo it, but couldn't and the effect was that the guards were killed. Not such good news for them.

Read Acts chapter 12 verses 20-25

Herod was a powerful man; so powerful that the people of Tyre and Sidon came in a delegation to ask for peace so that they would not starve. They were so afraid of him they came in a group and saw his personal assistant. You can imagine the tension as he sits on his throne in his royal robes and speaks to the people. In their enthusiasm they shout "this is the voice of a god not a human". And Herod is eaten by worms and dies… nice.

There is a prayer, used in our communion service, which says; "Yours Lord is the greatness the power the glory and the majesty for everything in heaven and on earth is Yours. All things come from You and of your own do we give You"

The people of Tyre and Sidon did not pray to God for food but went to the person with power, the person who to them was god. And he, Herod, did not recognize that all he had also came from God, he did not acknowledge that God provides. And he payed the ultimate, perhaps the eternal price, for his sin. In our lives it is important to remember that it is God who sustains and protects us. God who gives and God who takes away. God is sovereign over all the earth whether we think so or not, we can trust and follow Him and find our daily security, our daily bread in him.

If God could do absolutely anything he wanted with your life, how would your life be different?

When we pray what do we expect?

How encouraging it is when we see answers to prayer and how much more so when God's glorious intervention can be shared with others to encourage them. A bit like a ripple on a pond, God's answer disturbs our reality and encourages us to remain faithful to our sovereign Lord. The good news is too good to keep!

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 8640