Exposition of Acts: Folly of Fighting God
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. POWER OF EVIL MEN
A. MARTYRDOM OF JAMES
>>1. PERSECUTION
Acts 12:1 About that time King Herod Agrippa I the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
(also Mt 2:1-16; Lk 23:7-12)
>>2. PROTECTION
Acts 12:2 He beheaded James the brother of John,
(also Mt 17:1; 26:37; Mk 5:37; 9:2; 14:33; 10:35-40; Lk 5:37; 14:33)
B. IMPRISONMENT OF PETER
>>1. POPULARITY
Acts 12:3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
>>2. PRISON
Acts 12:4-5a And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So, Peter was guarded in prison.
(also Acts 5:17-21)
II. POWER OF AN EFFECTUAL GOD
A. ANGELIC VISIT TO PETER
>>1. PLAN
Acts 12:6-7 On the very night before Herod was to execute him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries in front of the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
(also Mt 26:36-46; Lk 22:45; Ps 127:2)
>>2. PROMPTED
Acts 12:8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
B. DELIVERANCE OF PETER
>>1. PASSED
Acts 12:9-10 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them automatically, and they went out and down one street, and immediately the angel left him.
>>2. PERCEPTION
Acts 12:11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I’m certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
III. POWER OF EARNEST PRAYER
A. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
>>1. PETITION
Acts 12:5b, 12 but unremitting prayer for him was made to God by the church. When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
(also Acts 4:37; Col 4:10; Philemon 24; I Pet 5:13; Lk 22:44)
>>2. PLEASED
Acts 12:13-14 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she didn’t open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.
>>3. PROOF
Acts 12:15-16 They said to her, “You’re out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
B. FALL-OUT FROM RESCUE OF PETER
>>1. PRESENTED
Acts 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another location.
(also Acts 15:7; Gal 2:11-14)
>>2. PUNISHED
Acts 12:18-19a Now at daylight, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be executed.
IV. POWER OF ETERNAL JUSTICE
A. IDOLARY OF HEROD
>>1. PEACE
Acts 12:19b-20 Herod left Judea for Caesarea and spent time there. Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
>>2. PRAISE
Acts 12:21-22 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the rostrum and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
B. FATE OF HEROD & THE CHURCH
>>1. PUNISHED
Acts 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
(also Acts 10:25-26; 14:4-18)
>>2. PROSPERED
Acts 12:24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.