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John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Phillips quips that on this feast "The Jews were required to scour their houses to make sure no corrupting leaven remained. Thus, while the Jews were ridding their houses of leaven in accordance with their ritual law, their hearts were fermenting with the hidden leaven of malice and wickedness." (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Peter being arrested on the days of Unleavened Bread, the Passover is a bit ironic in that this was the time Jews celebrated their deliverance from bondage to an evil ruler in Egypt. As the present story unfolds it will also result in Peter's deliverance from bondage by an evil ruler, as we see Peter not "pass over" but "pass by" guards standing watch over his cell! THOUGHT - The deliverance of Peter from bondage reminds me of Rich Mullins great song "My Deliverer." Is Jesus your Deliverer? If He is rejoice as you listen to My Deliverer. If Jesus is not yet your Deliverer, I still encourage you to listen to what could be yours if you repent and place your faith wholly in the Holy Jesus. God alone is able to deliver you out of the Kingdom of darkness and transfer you to the Kingdom of light, the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13,14+, cf Acts 26:18+). Jesus Alone can deliver you from your otherwise certain horrible fate of eternal punishment for you innumerable sins against the Holy God (see Jesus' warnings in Jn 8:24, Mt 25:41). Related Resources: Why do I need to be saved? How can I be saved? Who can be saved? Can a person believe in some sense but not be saved? What does it mean to be saved by grace? What if I don't feel saved? A T
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Phillips writes on ektenos - That kind of praying bombarded the throne of God during the week Peter lay in prison. It was the kind of prayer that makes iron gates yield. (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Brian Bell - A five-point teaching on prayer: Prayer must be constant/intense/fervent/earnest, not casual. Prayer must be ongoing, was offered. [verb tense implies continuing activity] Prayer must be to God. [In genuine contact with the living God] Not with empty repetition, and not in unbelief. Prayer must be specific, not vague…for him (Peter). Prayer must be communal by the church. The believer is not called to an isolated life. Bell adds "I’m sure they (THE CHURCH) thought, “why bring our petitions to the wolf (Herod) to request he release the lamb” (Peter). So they bring their petitions to God instead! 16 guards or 16,000 guards, these men & women would have still prayed him out! Did you know that if you are a believer you must be concerned for prisoners? Matthew 25 defines “those who inherit the kingdom” (Mt 25:34) are those who: help the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; take in strangers; cloth those who need clothes; visit the sick; & visit the prisoners. (Mt 25:35-40) Jack Arnold has a convicting comment - Prayer is essential, necessary and vital to the furtherance of Christ and His spiritual kingdom in this world. Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ never left us any instruction on how to preach, but he did tell us how to pray. Why is it that in our seminaries and Bible schools and even churches no courses in prayer are taught? There are courses in theology, Bible, Christian Education, preaching and so forth, but there are usually no courses on prayer. Why is it that the vast majority of major theological works never deal with prayer when prayer is a basic doctrine of the Bible? Prayer is doctrine and we all need to become experts in this aspect of systematic and practical theology. (Acts 12:1-25 Supernaturalism and the Church) Related Resources: What is intercessory prayer? Utley's Topic - Intercessory Prayer Is it acceptable to repeatedly pray for the same thing? Who are we to pray to, the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit? Prayer Quotes Prayer Illustrations and Devotionals Ray
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Phillips says "Peter's deliverance was God's deliberate answer to Herod's defiance and to the Jews' malicious delight." (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) The only other NT use is by Luke quoting Jesus' description of the watchfulness of people in the coming apocalyptic age as they see, with growing apprehension, end-time events approaching, Jesus declaring "men fainting from fear and the expectation (prosdokia) of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Lk 21:26+). Jack Arnold observes that "The prayers of these saints somehow moved upon God to deliver Peter from prison. Prayer did not change God's secret plan, but God ordained these prayers as a means to bring about the ultimate end of the deliverance of Peter. From our human perspective, prayer does cause God to work for us. When the saints pray, God intervenes. This shows the tremendous power of prayer which God has placed at the disposal of His people. Prayer somehow causes God to bring about His sovereign plans and purposes. Prayer is the major weapon, tool, instrument God has given His church to overcome its enemies and to further the cause of Christ in this world. Oh, if we could only understand how effective the prayers of a righteous man who prays perseveringly can be!" Many have asked why did God allow Herod to kill James but Peter was set free? J
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Phillips - Mary was the sister of Barnabas (ISBE says "she was also, in all probability, the aunt of Barnabas"). As Barnabas had put his property at the disposal of the church, so (Mary) put her house. Peter seems to have had a measure of intimacy with the family, for he affectionately calls Mark "my son" (1 Pet. 5:13). It was to that house Peter decided to go and report his release before going into hiding from Herod's police. (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Bob
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Phillips says "When the sun's rays fell upon that robe it glittered and shone with a resplendence that dazzled the crowds packed into the theatre." (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Steven
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Phillips comments "Herod had gone too far. He had exhausted the patience of God. He had crossed the hidden boundary between God's mercy and His wrath. Well may we all beware." (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Josephus notes that Herod “did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery” (Antiquities XIX, vii, 2). And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him - The verdict and sentence were executed simultaneously. One angel of the Lord sets a God fearing man free, while another angel of the Lord strikes down a self-glorifying man who would pretend to be a god! And it was the latter (Herod) that even imprisoned the former (Peter) with the goal to kill him. What a bitter irony is interwoven in Acts 12. Swindoll explains that "The expression translated “to strike,” when used in this fashion, is known as a Hebraism. Luke intends for the reader to recall the Old Testament manner of describing divine wrath falling upon the wicked to protect the righteous (Ex. 9:15; 12:12-13; 2 Sa 24:16-17; 2 Ki 19:35). Such a divinely sent “strike” is always a fatal blow." (See Insights on Acts) Struck (3960)(patasso) means to strike or hit whether violently (HEROD'S ARROGANCE) or lightly (PETER ASLEEP) - (1) It speaks of a violent blow intended to wound, slay or kill (Acts 7:24, Mt 26:31, Mk 14:27, Acts 12:23 Ex. 21:12, 18; Ex 12:23 = smite the Egyptians on Passover). Of Peter striking the slave of the high priest and cutting off his ear (Mt 26:51, cf Lk 22:49, 50) The most dramatic use in the Bible describes the return of Jesus when "from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations." (Rev 19:15+) (2) In contrast potasso in can refer to giving a light or gentle blow (Acts 12:7). It is interesting that potasso describes Moses striking down and killing the Egyptian, is used in the Septuagint to describe Moses striking the Nile (Ex 7:20, 25) and it turned to blood. Potasso is used in a more figuratively sense in describing striking or smiting with disease, evil, judgment, etc (Rev. 11:6 = strike the earth with plague; Ge 19:11 = angels struck the men with blindness; Nu 14:12 = smite them with pestilence ; Mal. 4:6 = smite the land with a curse). Immediately (at once) (3916)(parachrema from pará = at, and chrḗma = something useful or needed) means suddenly, immediately, at the very moment, on the spot, forthwith, directly after something else has taken place. It sometimes has the implication of unexpectedness in certain context as the withering of the fig tree (Mt 21:19, 20). Note how most of the uses are in the context of a miraculous event and emphasize the absence of delay in the performance of the miracle. Luke's frequently uses of parachrema - Lk. 1:64; Lk. 4:39; Lk. 8:44; Lk. 8:47; Lk. 8:55; Lk. 13:13; Lk. 18:43; Lk. 19:11; Lk. 22:60; Acts 3:7; Acts 5:10; Acts 12:23; Acts 13:11; Acts 16:26; Acts 16:33 Related Resources: Who is the destroying angel? Is there an angel of death? NET Note - On being struck … down by an angel, see Acts 23:3 (“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!"); 1 Sa 25:28; 2 Sa 12:15 ("Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David,"); 2 Kgs 19:35 ("the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians"); 2 Chr 13:20; ("Jeroboam did not again recover strength in the days of Abijah; and the LORD struck him and he died. ") 2 Macc 9:5 Because - Term of explanation. This one is easy to decipher! As Barclay said "The pride of man had ended in the wrath of God." He did not give God the glory - The act that resulted in the divine verdict that brought Herod's sentence of condemnation. Clearly Herod had never read the Westminster Shorter Catechism... Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Related Resouces: What is the glory of God? What does it mean to glorify God? How can I glorify God in everything I do? There is an old country and western song that describes King Herod's problem... Oh Lord it's hard to be humble When you're perfect in every way I can't wait to look in the mirror Cause I get better looking each day To know me is to love me Oh Lord It's hard to be humble, But I'm doing the best that I can Brian Bell applies these truths asking - Are we stealing Glory from God? Are we attributing to Him every good thing in our life? Everygood gift that we have? Every ability or talent that we possess? Every good deed that we do? Do you make much of Jesus or much of yourself? Do you work to honor Christ? Does your marriage exalt Christ? Does your temper honor Christ? Does your home glorify Christ? David
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Phillips comments that "The Holy Spirit sets down this progress report here in evident contrast with the ignominous death of Herod. The worms are set in contrast with the Word. Both are God's instruments. Herod might want to destroy the church, but the Word of God, inspired, infallible, inerrant, invincible, marched gloriously on. The armed might of government may be mobilized against it, but the Word of God knows no boundaries to its empire, no barriers to its progress." (See Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary - Page 225) Steven