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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 12
Guzik - The manner of Herod’s death was appropriate to his spiritual state; he corrupted from the inside out.
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Guzik - Eusebius relates a story from Clement of Alexandria, who said the soldier guarding James before the judge was so affected by his witness that he declared himself a Christian also and was also willingly executed for Jesus along side of James (Eusebius, Church History 2.9.2–3). Here is Eusebius account - 2. And concerning this James, Clement, in the seventh book of his Hypotyposes, relates a story which is worthy of mention; telling it as he received it from those who had lived before him. He says that the one who led James to the judgment-seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved, and confessed that he was himself also a Christian. 3. They were both therefore, he says, led away together; and on the way he begged James to forgive him. And he, after considering a little, said, Peace be with you, and kissed him. And thus they were both beheaded at the same time. 4. And then, as the divine Scripture says, Acts 12:3 sqq. Herod, upon the death of James, seeing that the deed pleased the Jews, attacked Peter also and committed him to prison, and would have slain him if he had not, by the divine appearance of an angel who came to him by night, been wonderfully released from his bonds, and thus liberated for the service of the Gospel. Such was the providence of God in respect to Peter. Herschel Ford wrote, “James lived a short time; his brother John lived over one hundred years. But both of them lived for Jesus and this is the thing that counts. It does not matter whether you live fifty years or a hundred years. The thing that matters is this: are you filling your life with service to God?” THOUGHT - Are you living for Jesus today? Or are you saying "I'll wait until I'm older and successful in my occupation. Then I will live for Him." If the latter, then pay heed to the wise words of James - "the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away....Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 1:10, 4:14) cf God's assessment of the brevity of our lives in light of eternity = Job 7:6, 7 Job 9:25, 26 Job 14:1, 2 Ps 37:2 Ps 39:5, 6. Ps 144:4, Isa 40:6,7). Related Resource: Does the Bible record the death of the apostles? The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James (Acts 12:2). King Herod had James “put to death with the sword,” likely a reference to beheading. The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition, so we should not put too much weight on any of the other accounts. The most commonly accepted church tradition in regard to the death of an apostle is that the apostle Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy (John 21:18). Steven Cole's introduction to his sermon on Acts 12 paints a vivid picture of the scene - “Have you heard the news? Herod beheaded James!” “No way! Not James! He was one of the inner circle with Jesus! Peter, James, and John. I thought for sure that God would protect James!” “But that’s not all. The latest polls show that Herod’s approval rating went up after he killed James. So now he also has Peter in custody. Word has it that after the feast is over, he is going to execute him! There’s a prayer meeting tonight at Mary’s house.” “I’ll see you there.” There are times when evil seems to be winning the day. Wicked men get away with murder and their popularity goes up, not down. The righteous suffer terribly. Their loved ones are bereaved. It’s easy at such times to wonder, “Where is God in all of this? Why did He allow this to happen? How can any good come out of such awful wickedness?” James and John had been close. They had worked together in their father’s fishing business. They had spent three years in close contact with Jesus. They had hopes and dreams of how God would use them in spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. But now, James was suddenly gone. John was left wondering, “Why?” (The Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:1-25) Acts 12:3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. KJV Acts 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) When he saw that it pleased the Jews Acts 24:27; 25:9; John 12:43; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 he proceeded Acts 2:14; 4:13; Psalms 76:10; John 19:11; 21:18 Then Exodus 12:14-20; 13:3-7; 23:15; Leviticus 23:6-14; Matthew 26:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 PEOPLE PLEASER PUTS PETER IN PRISON When he saw that it pleased the Jews - Herod’s approval rating sky rocketed! Herod was a "people pleaser," not a God pleaser! And eventually this sin of pride and self-glorification would result in his inglorious death (see Acts 12:21,22,23+)! Herod sought the approval of men, not of God, Whom he defied (or at least so he thought). In short, there was no fear of God before his eyes. (Ps 36:1, cf Ro 3:18+). THOUGHT - Who are you seeking to approve dear disciple? God grant us the will and the way during our short stay on earth to seek to please only one Lord, King Jesus. Amen. One other thought to remember is that those who are living in rebellion will encourage your rebellion (Read 1 Peter 4:4+) John Phillips on pleased the Jews - This is a commentary on the Jews as much as on Herod. The Jews were now well embarked on that course of Christ-rejection that was to bring their nation to shipwreck in less than three decades. As for Herod, he trimmed his sails to catch the favorable breeze and set out to further damage the Body of Christ. Accordingly he arrested Peter, the acknowledged leader of the apostles. (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Matthew Henry on it pleased the Jews - The Jews made themselves guilty of the blood of James by showing themselves well pleased with it afterwards, though they had not excited Herod to it. There are accessories ex post facto-after the fact; and those will be reckoned with as persecutors who take pleasure in others' persecuting, who delight to see good men ill used, and cry, Aha, so would we have it, or at least secretly approve of it. For bloody persecutors (LIKE HEROD), when they perceive themselves applauded for that which everyone ought to cry shame upon them for, are encouraged to go on, and have their hands strengthened and their hearts hardened, and the checks of their own consciences smothered. Herod Agrippa I "sought the popularity of the Jewish people by pretending to be a Jewish convert. He publicly kept the Jewish law and feasts, seeking the support and loyalty of the people. It was this that caused him to turn against the church. He was seeking the favor of the people, their approval and loyalty (see Acts 12:3). Herod was a shrewd politician, able to maneuver and manipulate people to his advantage." ((Borrow The Preacher's outline & sermon Bible : New Testament page 182)) Pleased (701)(arestos from aresko) is an adjective which describes that which is acceptable, pleasing, satisfying, agreeable, that which elicits an agreeable response, gratifying. The first use in the Septuagint is Ge 3:6+ where Eve says the tree was good for food and that it was a delight (Hebrew = taavah from avah - to incline or desire = a desire; Lxx = arestos) to the eyes." Matthew Henry on Herod arresting Peter - Blood to the blood-thirsty does but make them more so, and the way of persecution, as of other sins, is downhill; when men are in it, they cannot easily stop themselves; when they are in they find they must on. One evil deed is covered with another, so that there is no passage through them. Those that take one bold step in a sinful way give Satan advantage against them to tempt them to take another, and provoke God to leave them to themselves, to go from bad to worse. It is therefore our wisdom to take heed of the beginnings of sin (ED: AMEN AND AMEN! QUICKLY CONFESS AND REPENT WHEN YOU FALL INTO A SIN, LEST IT BE A DOORWAY TO MANY AND MUCH GREATER SINS!). He proceeded to arrest Peter also - This was Peter's third arrest (Acts 4:3; 5:18). Notice the words "Peter also" which indicates that part of the mistreatment of the Church in Acts 12:1 was to arrest some of the disciples. Proceeded (4369)(prostithemi from from prós = to or besides + títhēmi = to put) means to set, add, put, lay unto or with something. It can mean adding to what is already present. In this case, what was "already present" was the fact that the Jews were pleased with Herod's murder of James, so to that sin Herod sought to "add" the sin of killing Peter in order to "add to" the favor he had already achieved with the Jewish populace! In a very real sense Herod was adding to his sins, piling them up, not caring that he would one day have to repay (soon) God, and then spend eternity "repaying" his sin debt. (Herod's "payday someday" reminds me of the classic sermon preached over 1000 times by Robert G. Lee [1886-1974] - read "Payday, Someday" or watch the Video Version) Arrest (4815)(sullambano from sun/syn = together with + lambáno = to take, to seize) means literally to seize or take together and conveys the picture of clasping. To bring together. To enclose. To seize. To trap or capture as one would a "catch of fish" (Lk 5:9). Sullambano has several meanings depending on the context, the most common meaning being to arrest someone (7/16 uses) or take them into custody. All of Luke's uses of sullambano - Lk. 1:24; Lk. 1:31; Lk. 1:36; Lk. 2:21; Lk. 5:7; Lk. 5:9; Lk. 22:54; Acts 1:16; Acts 12:3; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:21 Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread - This is a parenthetical note by Dr Luke. Why would Luke give us this detail? Undoubtedly Herod did not just want to put Peter in prison, but he wanted to put him to death (see Acts 12:4+). However, wanting to please the Jews, he knew he would have to wait until after the Passover because Jewish law did not allow executions during the Passover. Feast of Unleavened Bread is another name for the Passover Feast (Dt 16:1-16+, Lev. 23:5–8; Lk 22:1+ = "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching." The whole 8 day period would begin with the actual Passover meal on day one [see Lev 23:3+] then followed by seven days of unleavened bread [see Lev 23:5-8+]) which would mark the days as sometime in March or April (Nisan 14 to Nisan 21, Nisan 14 being Passover Eve) the time of the annual Passover (cf Acts 12:4) and a time when fervent religious Jewish crowds would be thronging to Jerusalem. Herod being a shrewd, sinister sinner reasoned that this would be a perfect time to seize one of the most prominent leaders of the Christian church and enhance even to a greater degree his reputation among the Jews. Herod misunderstood the difference between reputation and character! Reputation is what others think about you while character is what God knows to be true about you (see God's assessment of Herod's character in Acts 12:22, 23+!) Passover and Unleavened Bread was one of the 3 feasts all Jewish males were required to attend annually... "Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (includes Passover) and at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. (Deut 16:16+) John
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Guzik observes "In this contest, Herod had his soldiers and his prisons; but the church had the power of prayer. The outcome would soon be seen, and easily decided. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but the church was free to pray. When every other gate is shut and locked, the gate to heaven is wide open. We take advantage of that open gate through prayer." This was a focused prayer meeting with one goal - liberation of Peter. Notice how persecution prompts prayer (individually and corporately). While Luke does not mention the Holy Spirit, there is little question that this intense, persistent praying by the Body was energized by the Spirit in the Spirit filled believers! Furthermore, their prayer was with one mind, all together, in one accord, like that in Acts 1:14+ where the Church needed to find a replacement for Judas and so the first Church "all with one mind (homothumadon = also Acts 4:24, Acts 15:25, Ro 15:6) were continually (present tense) devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." Crises have a way of stirring fervent, focused prayer. Remember what we saw after "911" attack in America - focused prayer was at an all time high in the nation! This prayer is a perfect illustration of Paul's instruction to the church at Ephesus (notice the repetition of "all" and remember this prayer is in the context of "spiritual warfare" - Eph 6:10-17)... With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Eph 6:18+) Their prayer is also an illustration of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount “Ask (present imperative - keep at it), and it will be given to you; seek (present imperative - keep at it), and you will find; knock (present imperative - keep at it), and it will be opened to you. “For (term of explanation) everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Literally the door was opened and Peter walked into the prayer meeting - Acts 12:16!). (Mt 7:7-8+) Jack Andrews applies this passage - There are multitudes around us that are spiritually in prison; lost and undone and facing eternal death in the lake of fire. We are to be praying for those who need our prayers! We always have a purpose to pray! David Guzik rites that "Much of our prayer is powerless because it lacks earnestness (FERVENTLY). Too often we almost pray with the attitude of wanting God to care about things we really don’t care too much about.i. Earnest prayer has power not because it in itself persuades a reluctant God. Instead, it demonstrates that our heart cares passionately about the things God cares about, fulfilling Jesus’ promise If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you (John 15:7)." Related Resource Praying in the Spirit By the church - Was the whole church praying? Luke does not specifically say "all", and in Acts 12:12 he says "many were gathered together and were praying." Note a few points - many were at the prayer meeting, prayer was offered with unity, prayer was not general but for a very specific need, prayer was passionate (fervent with a sense of urgency), prayer was persistent, prayer was in faith that God would hear and act according to His good will. This is a good pattern of prayer, and especially when the church has a crisis. They were not just "going through the motions" as we often say when someone does something mechanically or by rote. How long did they pray? Luke does not say but recall that the Passover feast lasted 8 days, so it is very possible that they prayed "24/7" for 8 days! And notice that they did not give up but they prayed on and on - in fact Rhoda had to interrupt their prayer meeting! (Acts 12:13-15, 16) O, to be in such a prayer meeting that the answer to your prayers needs to interrupt the meeting! Jack Andrews gives two illustrations - When it comes to praying many in the church is like the little girl I heard about. This little girl went fishing with her dad. They began to fish and the little girl waited a little while. Then after getting no nibbles, she said, “I quit.” Her dad said, “Why?” The little girl said, “Dad, I can’t seem to get waited on.” Too often we give up and quit before God sends the answer! When we do that we show a lack of faith! A woman once left her diamond brooch in a hotel. After her trip and when she arrived at home she found out that she had left her brooch. She immediately called the hotel. She told the manager what had happened, what her name was, what room she stayed in, and desperately asked the manager to try to find her brooch. The manager went to look for it. After searching for the woman’s brooch the manager found it, put it in the safe, and returned to the phone to tell the lady the good news, but she had hung up. So many of us are like this. We aren’t willing to wait on the Lord. Prayer (4335)(proseuche from pros = toward or immediately before + euchomai = to pray or vow) is the more general word for prayer and is used only of prayer to God. The prefix pros would convey the sense of being immediately before Him and hence the ideas of adoration, devotion, and worship. The basic idea is to bring something, and in prayer this pertains to bringing up prayer requests. In early Greek culture an offering was brought with a prayer that it be accepted. Later the idea was changed slightly, so that the thing brought to God was a prayer. In later Greek, prayers appealed to God for His presence. Proseuche is used 37 times in the NT Matt. 17:21; Matt. 21:13; Matt. 21:22; Mk. 9:29; Mk. 11:17; Lk. 6:12; Lk. 19:46; Lk. 22:45; Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; Acts 3:1; Acts 6:4; Acts 10:4; Acts 10:31; Acts 12:5; Acts 16:13; Acts 16:16; Rom. 1:10; Rom. 12:12; Rom. 15:30; 1 Co. 7:5; Eph. 1:16; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2; Col. 4:12; 1 Thess. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:1; 1 Tim. 5:5; Phlm. 1:4; Phlm. 1:22; Jas. 5:17; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 Pet. 4:7; Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3; Rev. 8:4 THOUGHT - Note the concentration of prayer in the early church in Acts. What has happened to us as a church in America? How might this relate to how infrequently we see the power of the Lord at work in our midst? What will have to happen in America to send the Church to her knees? Fervently (a very "intense" word)(1619)(ektenos from ek = out + teíno = to stretch; English = tension) literally pictures one "stretching out"and pictures "an intense strain" and unceasing activity which normally involving a degree of intensity and perseverance. Ektenos is a medical term which describes the stretching of a muscle to its limits -- here the idea is that their "prayer muscles" were being stretched to the limit! The word combines the ideas of perseverance (“without letting up”) and intensity (“w. fervor, urgently”). The fundamental idea is earnestness, zealousness -- not doing something lightly and perfunctorily but straining as it were to do it! Cranfield suggests the figure of "the taut muscle of strenuous and sustained effort, as of an athlete." Jowett suggests the picture of the tension and energy of a stringed instrument, "as when the string of a violin has been stretched to a tighter pitch that it might yield a little higher note." Ektenos was an athletic term conveying the meaning of “striving with all of one’s energy” and was used to describe a runner who was moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit. One can picture many (if not all) those praying prostrate, on their faces before the Lord, earnestly crying out, pleading for God's sovereign deliverance of Peter! What a prayer meeting this must have been!!! Ektenos is used to describe Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Luke recording that Jesus "being in agony He was praying very fervently,and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." (Lk 22:44+) This gives us a graphic picture of the intensity of the corporate prayer by the Jerusalem church! Brian Bell comments that although they were praying "none of them really though Peter would be released. Ever been guilty of expecting less than a complete answer to prayer? (ED: GULP!) Pray believing! Like the church prayer meeting for rain, & only 1 member brought an umbrella! God is not wanting great men, but He is wanting men that will dare to prove the greatness of their God! Key in Ps.5:3 – [Prayer: I will direct it to You(Direction); I will look up (Expectation)] (Sermon Notes) It is also worth noting that from the phrase "it was during the days of Unleavened Bread" (Acts 12:3) suggests Peter was seized several days before the end of the 8 day celebration (some think actually before the feast began). Here is the point - this means that the Church prayed for several days with no answer, for Peter was not rescued miraculously until the last day of the feast ("On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward" Acts 12:6). That is an example of persevering prayer (cf "all perseverance" in Eph 6:18). Heaven was silent for several days, but the church kept stoking the fires of fervent prayer, which reflects their faith and trust in God. Even though it had not yet been written, the writer of Hebrews "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need ("in the nick of time" = at the last possible moment)." (AND THE CHURCH NEED HELP "IN THE NICK OF TIME!" AND GOD ANSWERED AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT!) (Heb 4:16+). Recall the words of James 5:16NLT = "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces (Greek = energeo in present tense) wonderful results." John
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Guzik writes "Many of us worry about the iron gate before we ever get to it. A month beforehand, and we are anxious about the iron gate! But God will take care of it when we come to it. For Peter, it opened of its own accord. That phrase uses the ancient Greek word, automate. One could say that the gates opened automatically for Peter. And they went out and went along one street - Peter had come a long way from his days in the Gospels where is had difficulty following. And immediately the angel departed from him - "The angel did for Peter only what he could not do for himself, then departed" (Brian Bell) The supernatural work still necessitated a natural response (no "Let go, let God," but more like "Let God and let's go" so to speak). The miraculous was no longer necessary. As he came to his sense, Peter knew where to go and what to do. Immediately (2112)(eutheos from euthus = straight, immediate) is an adverb which generally means at once, right away, forthwith, straightaway, without an interval of time or a point of time subsequent to a previous point of time. Departed (868)(aphistemi from apo = separation of one thing from another + histemi = stand and is the root of our English = apostasy) literally means to stand off from means to withdraw, to stand off, to forsake, to depart from or to remove oneself from, as John Mark "deserted (Paul and Barnabas) in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. In the present context the meaning is simply to describe the angel withdrawing from the scene. All of Luke's uses of aphistemi - Lk. 2:37; Lk. 4:13; Lk. 8:13; Lk. 13:27; Acts 5:37; Acts 5:38; Acts 12:10; Acts 15:38; Acts 19:9; Acts 22:29 Acts 12:11 When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." KJV Acts 12:11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. NLT Acts 12:11 Peter finally came to his senses. "It's really true!" he said. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!" I know for sure Genesis 15:13; 18:13; 26:9 that the Lord has sent forth His angel Acts 12:7; 5:19; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalms 34:7; Daniel 3:25,28; 6:22; Hebrews 1:14 rescued me from the hand of Herod 2 Samuel 22:1; Job 5:19; Psalms 33:18; 34:22; 41:2; 97:10; 109:31; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 2 Peter 2:9 from all that the Jewish people were expecting." Acts 23:12-30; 24:27; 25:3-5,9; Job 31:31 When Peter came to himself - "came to his senses" (NLT). Luke uses a similar expression to describe the prodigal son's reaction to his dismal condition in Lk 15:17+. The reality of the angelic encounter and its implications dawned on Peter. He realized that he was not dreaming, but was in fact really free! He said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel - "It's really true!" (NLT) Peter readily recognized that this whole event was the supernatural work of His sovereign God. Know (1492)(eido) means to know beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sent (1821)(exapostello from ek = out, forth + apostello = to send away) means to send away or send forth. Luke has most of the uses this verb in the NT - Lk. 1:53; Lk. 20:10; Lk. 20:11; Lk. 24:49; Acts 7:12; Acts 9:30; Acts 11:22; Acts 12:11; Acts 13:26; Acts 17:14; Acts 22:21; Gal. 4:4; Gal. 4:6. Luke uses this same verb in Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit declaring to the apostles "“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Paul uses it in a great passage "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law." And so exapostello is used of the sending forth of His angel, of His Holy Spirit and of His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. And rescued me from the hand of Herod - "Hand" speaks of the power of Herod. God's hand (via His angel) is more powerful than any human "hand." Rescued (delivered) (1807)(exaireo from ek = out + aireo = to take, remove, seize) literally means to take out and here in the middle voice means to set free or deliver. xaireo is the same verb Stephen had used when he quoted God's charge to Moses "I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE (exaireo) THEM; COME NOW (EVEN AS PETER HAD TO DO HIS PART, MOSES ALSO HAD TO DO HIS PART - GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY/MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY ARE BALANCED), AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’ (Acts 7:34+). Even as God brought about Israel's exodus from Egyptian bondage, so too He brought about Peter's "exodus" from Herodian bondage. And in an even greater sense, God has rescued all believers from bondage to sin and this godless world Paul writing that the Lord Jesus Christ "gave Himself for (= SUBSTITUTION = IN OUR PLACE) our sins, so that (PURPOSE) He might rescue (exaireo) us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:4+). So believers too have had a spiritual "exodus" from the dominion of sin and Satan, and are eagerly awaiting our final "exodus" forever free from the pollution and power of this present evil age and our present evil flesh! (cf our future "exodus" in when our Deliverer comes in 1 John 3:2+ and notice how it motivates in 1 John 3:3+). All 8 uses of exaireo in the NT - Matt. 5:29; Matt. 18:9; Acts 7:10; Acts 7:34; Acts 12:11; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:17; Gal. 1:4 And from all that the Jewish people were expecting - Like "hungry wolves!" Note that the rescue was not just from Herod's power but from the Jews. The NLT paraphrases the deliverance as "from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me," but it is not just the leaders but the people (Greek laos which gives us English laity)who obviously were antagonistic toward Christianity. Were expecting (4329)(prosdokia from pros = to, toward + dokao = to look for) is literally a looking for and refers to an an eager looking, an expectation of something that is to happen, whether in hope. Here in Acts 12:11 it is a "morbid hope" (hope so) for the Jews eagerly anticipated that Peter would be executed when the days of Unleavened Bread were over. However as John
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Guzik - Their prayer was earnest (Acts 12:5+), but their faith was not overwhelming. Little faith can accomplish great things if it is placed in the great God. A servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer - Rhoda's name means "Rose." Women can have such beautiful names like Dorcas (Gazelle), Euodia (Sweet Aroma), Syntyche (Good Luck).
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Guzik writes that " Herod fought against God. He killed James but didn’t defeat God’s plan. He arrested Peter, but the earnestly praying church saw God rescue Peter and the apostle’s work continue. History is filled with the stories of men who thought they could fight God and succeed; their ruined lives are evidence that it can’t be done. Friedrich Nietsche was the philosopher who coined the idea that God was dead, and that Christianity was a despised religion of weaklings. Fighting God drove him insane, and he spent the last several years of his life in that condition. Sinclair Lewis won the Nobel Prize for literature, and fought against God in his book Elmer Gantry. The book was about an evangelist who was also an alcoholic and would sleep with any woman he could. Sinclair Lewis died a hopeless alcoholic in a clinic near Rome. Writer Ernest Hemingway lived his life of adventure and sin against God seemingly without consequences—until he shot himself in the head with a shotgun. Fighting against God just doesn’t work." (AND THIS LIST COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON!) MacArthur cites other Biblical examples of men who thought they could fight God - One of the first in the long line of rulers who fought God was the pharaoh who ruled Egypt at the time of the Exodus. Fighting God cost him and his people dearly as horrible plagues, culminating in the deathof every firstborn Egyptian male, lashed their land. Still Pharaoh fought on, until his army drowned in the Red Sea. The Canaanite king of Arad’s part in the war against God resulted in the destruction of his people and their cities (Num. 21:1–3). Sihon of the Amorites (Num. 21:21–31) and Og of Bashan (Num. 21:33–35) suffered similar fates. Balak, king of Moab, was clever enough to avoid a direct frontal assault. Instead he used that prophet for hire Balaam in an attempt to curse Israel (Num. 22–24). Balak’s strategy backfired, however, as God intervened and had Balaam bless Israel instead. The king of Ai fought God and was hanged for his trouble (Josh. 8:29). The thirtyone Canaanite kings listed in Joshua 12:7–24 suffered similar defeats. Sennacherib, proud leader of the feared and powerful Assyrian army, saw that army decimated in battle against God (2 Kings 19:35). Soon afterward, he himself was dead, murdered by two of his own sons (Isa. 37:38). DIVINE MATHEMATICS Continued to...be multiplied (also imperfect tense)(4129) (plethuno from plethos = fullness from pletho = to fill) means to be made full, grow, increase or be multiplied in number. Other figurative uses of plethuno describe an increase in lawlessness in the last of the last days (Mt 24:12), an increase in a harvest of righteousness (2 Co 9:10), and prayers for increased grace and peace (2 Pe 1:2, Jude 1:2) I love the way John Stott sums up Acts 12 - It is in striking contrast to the death of the tyrant, that Luke adds one of his summary verses: But the word of God continued to increase and spread (Acts 12:24, cf. Acts 6:7; 9:31). Indeed, one cannot fail to admire the artistry with which Luke depicts the complete reversal of the church’s situation. At the beginning of the chapter Herod is on the rampage—arresting and persecuting church leaders; at the end he is himself struck down and dies. The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free, and the word of God triumphing. Such is the power of God to overthrow hostile human plans and to establish His own in their place. Tyrants may be permitted for a time to boast and bluster, oppressing the church and hindering the spread of the Gospel, but they will not last. In the end, their empire will be broken and their pride abased (ED: SEE HYMN BELOW). (borrow The message of Acts : the Spirit, the church & the world page 212)