We were briefly introduced to Saul of Tarsus at the conclusion of Stephen’s speech, Acts 7:58. He played a part in the unlawful execution of Stephen. As we take up Acts 9, we find that Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” Acts 9:1.
Saul was born to Jewish parents in Tarsus, a Roman colony located in Cilicia, Acts 22:3 / Acts 21:39. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, Romans 11:1 / Philippians 3:5.
His parents gave him the name Saul, no doubt after King Saul, who was of that tribe. He enjoyed Roman citizenship, Acts 22:28, which would be of great advantage to him later on. He was also reared as a Pharisee, Acts 23:6 / Acts 26:5 / Philippians 3:5.
He no doubt spent his childhood in Tarsus, where he would have received a typical synagogue schooling and also learned the trade of tent making. Probably at an early age, he was sent to Jerusalem, where he studied at the feet of the famous Jewish Rabbi Gamaliel, Acts 22:3.
In Galatians 1:14, he states, “And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” It seems he had a promising future as a Pharisee. Saul had observed the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
Many priests were being converted Acts 6:7. Probably with the encouragement of Jewish leaders, he took it upon himself to stop this growth by severely persecuting Christians.
Later on, he describes his actions, “And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prison……And when the blood of………. Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, Acts 22:4 / Acts 22:20.
“Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons… but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them, Acts 26:10. In Galatians 1:13, he said he “tried to destroy the church of God”.
When the followers of Jesus fled from Jerusalem. Saul may have thought that the growth of the church had been stopped in the Jerusalem area. Now the church must be stopped from growing outside of Jerusalem. Armed with letters from the High Priest and the Council, he took an armed band of men to cities outside of Jerusalem, Acts 9:1-2. It seems at first, he goes to Damascus, Acts 9:3.
Jews all over the world were subject to the High Priest and any discipline he wished to bring upon them. The Romans did not object to the religious restrictions on the Jews.
In spite of the sermon and the death of Stephen, Acts 7-8:1, Saul had a clear conscience. He is still bent on halting the church. It seems strange that he had never encountered Jesus during his earthly ministry.
Saul may have been living outside of Jerusalem during those three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry. As Saul was in sight of Damascus, it was around noon, Acts 22:6. Suddenly, his whole world was turned upside down.
There was a dazzling light, Acts 22:6 / Acts 26:13. The men with him all fell to the ground, Acts 26:14. Saul hears a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9:3-4. He could see a man but did not recognise him. “Who are you?” Saul asked. The answer was, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” Acts 9:5.
Can you imagine the instant shock and the many thoughts that must have flooded his mind? All his energy, opposition and zeal against the church had been dead wrong.
All the people he had arrested, put in jail, approving their deaths was wrong. Everything he had been doing was wrong. His life was suddenly a personal disaster. No wonder in later years he refers to himself as the “chief “ of sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15.
Paul is visibly shaken. He asks, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” The Lord said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do,” Acts 9:6 / Acts 22:10. The men who were with him stood speechless. They had heard a voice but did not see anyone, Acts 9:7.
As Saul arose from the ground, he could not see, for he was suddenly blind, Acts 9:8. He had to be led into the city where he remained for three days without sight, food or water, Acts 9:9.
He spent his time in praying, Acts 9:11. Knowing his sincerity, we can assume he must have prayed about a lot of things he had wrongfully done to innocent Christians.
The Lord appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias, instructing him to go to a street called Straight and look for the house of Judas, where he would find Saul praying, Acts 9:10-11.
At the same time, Saul had a vision of Ananias coming to him, putting his hand on him “so that he might receive his sight,” Acts 9:12. Ananias had already heard of Saul and his opposition to the church, Acts 9:13-14. He was not anxious to see Saul.
The Lord tells him to go ahead “for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name’s sake,” Acts 9:15-16.
Ananias goes to the house of Judas and lays his hands on Saul, Acts 9:17. He told Saul, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit,” Acts 9:17.
We are told that scales from his eyes and he regained his sight, Acts 9:18. He is told, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord,” Acts 22:16.
How different from what men are told to do today. A common approach has been to just pray and confess your sins and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart.
When Ananias found Saul, he was on his knees praying, Acts 9:11. The first thing he did was to get him off his knees and take him to a stream of water and baptise him that he might receive the forgiveness of his sins, Acts 9:18 / Acts 2:38.
There could be no clearer statement of the purpose of baptism than the words of Ananias when he directed Saul to “be baptised and wash away your sins,” Acts 22:16.
Saul has already demonstrated his faith and his godly sorrow and repentance for all the havoc he had brought on the Lord’s church during the three days of blindness and prayer.
It is now time to get off his knees and be baptised to have his sins washed away, Acts 22:16. Saul does not hesitate one moment to do what Ananias told him to do, Acts 9:18. Saul now has a new life in Christ! He has been forgiving of all past sins. For the first time, he “took food and was strengthened,” Acts 9:19.
We might ask, why did the Lord pick Saul to be an apostle? God knew that he could take Saul’s knowledge of the scriptures, his zeal, his energy, his determination, his understanding of the Gentiles and their ways and customs and channel these attributes into the right direction. Saul could become a powerhouse for carrying the gospel to the Gentiles. Saul does not return to Jerusalem.
He remains in Damascus. Immediately, we find him in the synagogues where he preached that Jesus was the Messiah, the “Son of God,” Acts 9:20. The people could not believe their ears, Acts 9:21. This persecutor has now suddenly turned defender of Jesus, the Son of God.
At some point, Saul received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This enabled Him to speak by inspiration. At some point, he left Damascus and spent time in Arabia, which was southwest of Damascus. The Bible does not inform us why he did this or what he did while he was there.
Returning to Damascus, his life was in danger. He literally had to hide out, Acts 9:23-24. Finally, he was let down in a basket from a window on the wall of the city and escaped, Acts 9:25. They tried to kill him for preaching about Christ, Acts 9:22.
He went to Jerusalem, but his life was endangered. To protect him from harm, they sent him down to Caesarea and from there he sailed to Tarsus, where he remained for the next seven years, Acts 9:28-30.
As we proceed in the book of Acts, we are beginning to see the church moving out from Jerusalem in different directions as the Lord intended for it to do. Philip, Peter and John were involved with evangelism in Samaria, Acts 8:5-25.
Philip is involved with a man returning to Ethiopia, Acts 8:26-39, and then moves on to preach in Azotus, Acts 8:39-40. From there, he moved up the coast to Caesarea, Acts 8:40.
As a result of Stephen’s violent death, Christians are scattered throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria, Asia, Cilicia and Damascus. Beginning with Acts 9:31, we find that the church was enjoying peace and was multiplying.
The focus now turns to Peter on one of his mission trips. In Acts 9:32, we find that “Peter passed through all parts of the country and that he came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.”
Here we will get a glimpse of the activity of the early church outside of Jerusalem. Lydda was a village about twenty-six miles northwest of Jerusalem, located on a fertile plain.
When Peter reached Lydda, he found there were saints who lived there, Acts 9:41. Christians are often referred to as saints. This is not a title that is bestowed on someone special who has done deeds that qualify him to wear the title “Saint.”
While there, he found a man named Aeneas. He had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralysed, Acts 9:33. This is a long time to be confined to your bed.
We must keep in mind that a bed was most likely a mat which was placed on the floor. During the day, they could be stored for the day, but in Aeneas’ case, he lay on it all the time.
Peter, seeing his condition, tells him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. And he arose immediately,” Acts 9:34. Peter could have taken credit for the healing of this man, but he stated plainly that it was Jesus who was healing him. We are told that he was healed immediately, Acts 9:34.
The result of these miracles was that many of the people in Lydda and Sharon “turned to the Lord” as a result, Acts 9:35. Thus, again we see the purpose of miracles. They were performed to confirm the preaching of the gospel. Peter was an average man and could not do this except the Lord was with him.
When the people from Lydda and Sharon saw this eight-year-old bedridden man get up and walk in a natural way, they were convinced that the Lord Jesus was behind this event. Peter was able to turn their eyes from Aeneas to the power of Jesus.
Next, we find Peter twelve miles to the west in the seacoast town of Joppa, Acts 9:36. Its fame was that in the days of Solomon, the King of Lebanon sent cedar trees for the building of the temple.
The logs were floated down the coast from Tyre to Joppa and then went overland to Jerusalem. Also, the prophet Jonah had gone to Joppa to board a ship going to Tarshish in order to evade going to preach in Nineveh.
Peter finds a church in Joppa. The focus now is on a woman, a disciple named Tabitha, Acts 9:36. This was an Aramaic name, but in Greek it was Dorcas, which means “gazelle.” A gazelle is a most beautiful and graceful animal in the deer family.
We are told that she “was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did,” Acts 9:36. She had become sick and died. They washed her body and put it in an upper room, Acts 9:37.
It is said that in Jerusalem, they buried a person the same day they died. This was the case with Ananias, Acts 5:5-6, and Sapphira, Acts 5:9-10. It seems in her case, there was a waiting period so that friends and loved ones might visit and see her body.
Word came to Joppa of her death. Peter was only twelve miles away from Lydda. News of the miracle that happened to Aeneas may have caused them to call for Peter to come to Lydda, Acts 9:38.
Two men are sent to him “imploring him that he would not delay in coming to them,” Acts 9:38. They probably wanted Peter to arrive before Dorcas would be buried. As far as we know, none of the apostles had ever raised anyone from the dead. It probably took about three to four hours for Peter to make the trip.
When he arrived, they led him to the upper room where they had placed her body, Acts 9:39. There were a number of widows already in the room.
They “stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them,” Acts 9:39. Here we have a simple woman who had used her ability with a sewing needle to make clothing, which probably other widows were wearing at the time.
Dorcas may not have been a multi-talented individual, but she had the ability to sew. Her deeds indicate to us that she had a sensitive and sympathetic heart. She saw those who were in need of clothing. So, she began to sew for widows and others in need.
As far as we know, Dorcas taught no classes, did no miracles and was not in charge of any important project. If you happened to visit the church in Joppa, you might never have even noticed her sitting quietly. However, when she died, it brought many tears to the eyes of the members in Joppa.
We often overlook and underestimate the importance of Christians expressing the spirit of Christ by helping others in what we would call “little things.” But little things are important to God. Paul said, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10.
James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world,” James 1:27.
Jesus expressed this sentiment in Matthew 11:42, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
When we reach out to others by sending a card, cooking some food, cleaning a house, cutting the grass, raking leaves, visiting the sick and shut-ins, we are rendering something that is important to God. We need preachers, elders, deacons, song leaders, Bible class teachers, but we also need Christians who let their light shine by doing good deeds.
The first thing Peter does is to send everyone outside the room, Acts 9:40. When they were all outside the room, Peter knelt down and prayed. He then turned to her body and said, “Tabatha, arise.” Immediately, she opened her eyes, and when he saw Peter, he gave her his hand and lifted her up, Acts 9:40-41. He called in the saints and widows and “presented her alive,” Acts 9:41.
There are three things about her situation we need to notice. The raising of Dorcas was no harder than the healing of Aeneas. With the Lord, there are no small, medium-sized, or large miracles. If men had the power today to perform miracles, why not do all of them? Why not raise dead people!
When we look back on the miracles of the New Testament, why can’t those who claim to perform miracles today walk on water, make a person who has been blind all their life suddenly see, or a person who has never walked in their life suddenly stand up and walk, cause a raging storm to suddenly stop, make a leper clean, etc., etc.?
Faith healers often say the reason a person cannot be healed is that they do not have any faith. Dorcus certainly could not demonstrate any faith, so she could be raised from the dead. Faith was never a prerequisite for healing in New Testament times.
The most important part of this story is not the miracle that was performed. Miracles were not an end in themselves but always a means to an end. The really important thing is that souls were saved. This miracle led people to believe, Acts 9:42, repent and be baptised.
Up until we reach Acts 10, the history of the early church has been involved with the Jews only. There had been significant inroads into Samaria. These people were part Jewish. The Ethiopian was a proselyte.
No real effort had been made to reach the Gentiles. This was because of the Law of Moses, which was a covenant between God and Israel. Gentiles were not included in that covenant. Part of the problem was that the Jews considered themselves better than the Gentiles. They were the chosen ones.
They were clean; the Gentiles were unclean. Although the Jews had been dispersed throughout the world, they retained a separatist attitude. The synagogue gave them refuge from pagan culture.
When Jesus came, he would break down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles by his death on the cross. However, it would take time before Jewish Christians would be willing to accept the Gentiles as being on an equal footing with them and that God accepted them as a part of the church.
Acts 10 tells us how God started breaking down those barriers in the early church. Part of this story is repeated in Acts 11; therefore, we will include some of the details of that chapter in this lesson.
The significance of the conversion of the first Gentiles is evident in that more verses are devoted to this conversion than to any other conversions given in the book of Acts.
The story begins with a Gentile by the name of Cornelius, Acts 10:1. This is a Latin name indicating he was Italian. He was a centurion of what was called the Italian band, Acts 10:1.
This meant he had oversight of one hundred men. He was also a very good man. He was devout, one who feared God with all his household. He gave generously, and prayed frequently to God, Acts 10:2.
Another quality that comes out is his humility. While being a spiritually minded person, it does not seem that he was a proselyte. At first, it might seem he would be an unlikely prospect since he was a Roman soldier who would be disliked, even hated, by the Jews.
He lived in Caesarea, thirty miles up the seacoast from Joppa, where Peter was staying with Simon the Tanner, Acts 9:43 / Acts 10:6. One afternoon, Cornelius was praying. It was 3:00 p.m., and suddenly “an angel of God” appeared before him and called out his name.
Cornelius was afraid and asked, “What is it, Lord?” He was told that his prayers and giving had been noticed by God, Acts 10:4. He is to send men to Joppa and ask for Simon, whose surname is Peter. He was “lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside, Acts 10:5-6. He will tell you what you must do.
This man is remarkable considering the moral climate of that day among Gentiles and Roman soldiers. He was truly a good man in every sense of the word, but he was a lost man. Even our best deeds are never perfect. Paul reminds us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
The most godly person is still a sinner and stands in need of salvation. Isaiah reminds us, “All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment,” Isaiah 64:6. Cornelius is an example of the truth that no person is good enough to be saved on the basis of his goodness.
Cornelius and his household needed the blood of Christ. So, do all men today. Therefore, Cornelius needed an evangelist to tell him what to do about his lost condition. What must I do to be saved will be answered by Peter. It is late in the day, but he sends three men to Joppa.
This is no small distance if you are walking. It would require several hours. But why send for anyone since the angel could have told him what to do? Simply because Jesus gave the great commission to men, not to angels. The purpose of the angel was to get the sinner connected to a preacher.
People are to tell other people how to be saved. There is no doubt Peter was selected on this occasion to be the preacher because he had been given the keys of the kingdom, which he opened to the Jews on Pentecost, and now it needed to be opened to the Gentiles, Matthew 16:19.
Around noon the next day, the men arrive and find Peter on the housetop of Simon’s house. He had been praying and suddenly became hungry and fell into a trance, Acts 10:9-10.
He saw a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners and to his amazement, he saw all kinds of “four-footed animals, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air,” Acts 10:12 / Acts 11:6. A voice spoke, saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat,” Acts 10:13. Peter objected. He says he has never eaten anything that was unclean, Acts 10:14.
A second time, a voice speaks. “What God has cleansed you must not call common,” Acts 10:15. It seems the vision was repeated a third time, Acts 10:16 / Acts 11:10. Peter is puzzled over the meaning of the vision.
Suddenly, the three men sent by Cornelius arrive, Acts 10:17-19. Peter is told to “go down and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them,” Acts 10:20. Peter learns of the reason why the men have come, Acts 10:21-22. But how does his vision tie in with the coming of these men?
He invites them to spend the night, as no doubt they were very tired, Acts 10:23. The next day, Peter selects six men to accompany him to Caesarea, Acts 11:12. The following day, he arrives in Caesarea, Acts 10:24. Cornelius was already waiting for him along with his relatives and close friends, Acts 10:24.
At first, Cornelius fell down to worship Peter, but Peter would not allow it. He said, “Stand up; I too am just a man,” Acts 10:25-26. Cornelius relates his vision to Peter. He then says, “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God,” Acts 10:33.
What a wonderful audience Peter had to preach to. Peter now understands the vision he had on the housetop. He begins by saying, “God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean,” Acts 10:28. Peter preaches to non-Jews (Gentiles).
It is obvious that Acts 10:36-43 gives us only a condensed version of Peter’s sermon. He began by outlining the life and works of Jesus. He then went to the heart of the gospel as he spoke of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
He concludes that the apostles had been ordered to preach Jesus, who had been spoken of by the prophets, so that those who believe in him will receive remission of their sins.
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit falls upon those who had gathered in the home of Cornelius, Acts 10:44. Peter, along with his six Jewish witnesses, is amazed that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon these Gentiles so they could speak with tongues (languages) and exalt the name of God. It was the same as what had taken place on Pentecost about four years earlier, Acts 2:1-5.
However, the baptism of the Holy Spirit did not save Cornelius and his household. Peter turns to the six Jewish men and asks, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptised who have received the Holy Spirit just as we?” Acts 10:47.
What more evidence could they ask for that God accepted the Gentile just as much as he did the Jews? God had clearly announced that He does not show partiality. Peter is now convinced. Thus, “He commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord, Acts 10:48.
They are asked to remain over for a few days, Acts 10:48, which was good in that they could receive further important teaching. Later, when Peter goes up to Jerusalem, he is called on the carpet. “Those of the circumcision contended with him,” Acts 11:1-2. Their charge was that he had gone to the uncircumcised and had eaten with them,” Acts 11:3.
The great obstacle to accepting Gentiles into the church was a matter of fellowship. They could be baptised but would not be allowed to sit beside them in worship or eat with them.
Peter rehearses the events that had occurred. When he finished speaking, we are told: “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life,” Acts 11:18.
This part of the study now centres on the city of Antioch, a considerable distance away from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Antioch of Syria was the third-largest city in the world.
It was an ungodly city caught up in paganism. It is said it was second to Corinth. It will become the place where Paul begins his journeys into the western part of the Roman Empire.
We have already noted that the church began to spread far and wide as a result of Stephen’s death. “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch,” Acts 19:11.
However, in their preaching, they focused only on the Jews “speaking the word to no one except the Hellenist Jews alone,” Acts 19:11. By this time, the gospel had been preached to the Gentiles further south.
It began with the household of Cornelius and spread out to other Gentiles. This changed things in Antioch. A new congregation, unlike any formed before, takes shape. It was predominantly Gentile, but it also had Jewish members.
Now Jews and Gentiles sat together, listened to the preaching of the gospel, prayed together and partook of the Lord’s Supper together. Now, for the first time, Jews and Gentiles worshipped, worked and ate together as members of the same congregation.
There was no such thing as a Jewish congregation on one side of town and a Gentile congregation on the opposite side of town. Thus, we see the beginning of the breakdown of the walls between Jew and Gentile. This was a giant and very significant step in the early church.
News of this church reached the church in Jerusalem. Earlier, when the apostles heard that the Samaritans had received the word, they sent Peter and John, Acts 8:14-17.
This time, they send Barnabas to Antioch, Acts 11:22. We have met Barnabas earlier when he sold property and laid the amount he had received at the feet of the apostles, Acts 4:36-37.
He was a good man and a very generous man. He must have been well known and respected in the Jerusalem church, as they chose him to go and investigate what was taking place in Antioch. Some have thought his mission was a result of disturbed Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
However, after Peter reported his experience at the house of Cornelius, the brethren in Jerusalem were satisfied that the Holy Spirit’s coming on that household was proof enough that God had accepted the Gentiles just as much as the Jews. We are told, “They glorified God, saying, then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life,” Acts 11:18.
This is an example of a church reaching out in loving concern to see what help they might give a new church. Barnabas would be a man with much experience and would be well suited to help and encourage this new church made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
Barnabas was born in Cyprus, and no doubt was familiar with Antioch, which was very close by; thus, he would be familiar with the territory. Also, he was a Hellenistic Jew he would be sensitive to the problems that faced this new church in the middle of a pagan environment.
This is reflected in Acts 11:23, “When he came, and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”
Barnabas was greatly impressed. But Antioch was also blessed because they now had in their presence Barnabas “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” Acts 11:24. No better compliment could be given to a man than that he was a “good man,” Acts 11:24.
He is also full of the Holy Spirit, Acts 11:24, which would confirm the things he preached. The results were that “many people were added to the Lord,” Acts 11:24.
The word “many” would indicate a large number of new Christians. This may be the motivation for Barnabas to seek Saul, who would be in the Tarsus area, Acts 11:25.
The last time we saw Saul was when he was forced to leave Jerusalem and return to his home in Tarsus, Acts 9:28-30. It has now been seven or more years since that event. He evidently laboured in obscurity, as nothing is said about those seven years.
It is possible he preached in areas beyond Tarsus, even into some of the areas that he would later visit. Some think that his reputation would have followed him, and the Jews would not have favourably received him. We can be sure that Saul did not just sit around.
When Barnabas went to “look for Saul,” Acts 11:25, it would suggest he probably had some difficulty in finding him. Barnabas knew that God had selected him specifically to go to the Gentiles.
As it turns out, Barnabas and Saul made a good team, as we are told, “and it came to pass that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught many people,” Acts 11:26.
We learn that the disciples “were first called Christians in Antioch,” Acts 11:26. This is what is called a transliterated Greek word. It has two parts, “Christ” and “ian.” Christ means “the anointed one”, and “ian” signifies possession. So literally it means “the property of the anointed one.”
Paul said, “Or do you not know… that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Isaiah had prophesied, “And the nations will be your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will designate,” Isaiah 62:2.
Peter says, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter,” 1 Peter 4:16. This is the only name God has given us to wear and what a privilege it is to wear it.
Not only were Gentiles and Jews socialising and worshipping together, but a situation arose for the Gentiles to show their love and concern for the Jews. We are told that “prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch,” Acts 11:27.
Prophecy was one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Christians, 1 Corinthians 12:10. On Pentecost, Peter announced that “your sons and your daughters will Prophesy,” Acts 2:17 / Joel 2:28. They were officially inspired spokesmen for God.
One of these prophets was Agabus. He stood up before the church in Antioch and warned that there was going to be a “great famine throughout all the world,” Acts 11:28. This is the first mention of prophets in the church. Agabus was a well-known prophet. We meet him again in Acts 21:10-11.
He began to indicate by the Spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. “World” refers to the inhabited world and specifically the Roman Empire, Acts 11:28. Luke adds, “And this took place in the reign of Claudius,” Acts 11:28. Secular history reveals that famines plagued many regions of the Roman Empire.
We do not know for sure that Agabus came to Antioch to ask for their help with the coming famine. He may have come primarily to give them a warning. Whatever his motivation was, the response of the Christians in Antioch was immediate and demonstrated great love for the brethren in Jerusalem, Acts 11:29. Immediately, they determined to send relief, Acts 11:30.
Apparently, all the members at Antioch wanted to be a part of this aid to Jerusalem. Their giving was based on “their ability,” Acts 11:29. They sent this relief to the elders at Jerusalem by Barnabas and Saul, Acts 11:30. This is the first time in Acts that we read of elders, Acts 11:30.
The leadership in the church is now shifting from apostles to elders. This is a significant step forward in the organisation of the church. They, in turn, would see to it that distribution was made to those in need.
Acts 12 begins, “Now about that time….” Acts 12:1. “Time” refers to the end of the previous chapter, where we find that the Antioch Christians “determined to send relief to the brethren in Jerusalem,” Acts 11:29-30. Herod the King laid hands on some of the Christians in Jerusalem, Acts 12:1.
Since Saul’s conversion, the church had enjoyed relative peace, but that peace is about to be shattered. This is the fourth persecution against the church reported in Acts.
It differs from the first three in that it was not instigated by the Sanhedrin but by King Herod. This was Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, who had the babies killed in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus, Matthew 2:16.
At this point in time, he was ruler over all of Palestine. He, like those before him, had a palace at Caesarea and had come up to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. The Roman kings would usually come at the time when the Jews were observing special occasions.
Herod focuses on the apostles. His first act was to have James killed, Acts 12:2. He was the brother of John and one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew 4:21-22. Herod’s uncle, Herod Antipas, had given orders to have John the Baptist’s head cut off, Matthew 14:1-12 / Mark 6:14-29.
The present Herod did the same with James, putting him to death by the sword, Acts 12:2. This must have been very disturbing to the disciples. This is the first time someone has been successful in killing one of the Twelve. Luke seems to use great restraint in recording this terrible event.
We are somewhat surprised that He used only seven words in the original text to tell of the execution of this apostle. It is interesting that his death had been foretold by Jesus in the conversation Jesus had with the mother of James and John, Matthew 20:22. While James is the first apostle to die, John, according to tradition, would be the last to die.
Herod saw that the execution of James pleased the Jews, so he proceeded by taking Peter and having him placed in jail, Acts 12:3. Luke says that it was during the days of “Unleavened Bread,” Acts 12:3.
Since Peter had escaped before, special care was taken this time to see to it that he would not be able to escape. Herod waited until after the Passover to confront Peter. So, Peter would remain in jail for several days.
As someone has said, Herod turned the jail into a maximum-security prison. Peter was placed in the inner prison, with three locked doors between himself and freedom, Acts 12:4.
Peter was placed under the care of four squads of soldiers. A squad was four soldiers. Thus, a total of sixteen soldiers were assigned to keep Peter from escaping, Acts 12:4. Each squad was assigned to a three-hour shift.
Furthermore, for extra precaution, Peter was handcuffed to two soldiers, one on each side. Then a third soldier in the squad stood guard outside the prison door to his cell while a fourth stood guard between the inner cell and the outer gate. This would be in addition to the normal prison security.
From a human perspective, it would be impossible for Peter to escape. You can imagine the emotions that were felt by all the disciples in Jerusalem. They had just lost James, Acts 12:2, and now Peter is imprisoned and, in all likelihood, he will soon be executed, Acts 12:4. They no doubt had prayed for James, and he was not spared, Acts 12:5.
If God didn’t save James when they prayed for him, why should they pray for Peter? Then was the delay. They had been praying for Peter for probably at least seven days, but nothing happened. How easy it would have been to give up.
They did the only thing they knew to do, and that was to keep on praying for Peter. Luke tells us that “prayer for him was made to God without ceasing by the church,” Acts 12:5.
However, unknown to those praying that night, while Peter was asleep between two soldiers, Acts 12:6, suddenly the “angel of the Lord struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” Acts 12:7. Suddenly (miraculously), his chains fell from his arms, Acts 12:7.
It is amazing that Peter was fast asleep! Could any of us have slept soundly, being chained to two soldiers? Can you imagine the angel had to wake him up? This shows the complete trust and assurance of Peter that God’s will would prevail regardless of what Herod had planned.
The angel tells Peter to get up quickly, put his garments and sandals on and follow him, Acts 12:8. Peter, groggy from sleep, obeys the angel’s command, and together they walk right past the guards, Acts 12:9-10. They come to the Iron Gate that opened onto the street.
Peter is not sure it is real. He thinks he is seeing a vision, Acts 12:9. The gate opened by itself, and Peter walks out into the street where the angel left him, Acts 12:10.
Peter now comes to himself. He said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people,” Acts 12:11.
Peter goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many had gathered there to pray for Peter, Acts 12:12. They probably had been praying for a long time. We would like to know just what they ask God for in their prayers. Peter knocked at the door, and a girl named Rhoda came to answer, Acts 12:13.
When she saw Peter and recognised his voice, she did not open the door but, for gladness, ran in and announced that Peter was outside standing at the door, Acts 12:14.
They evidently thought that she had just imagined she saw Peter, but she kept insisting he was outside, Acts 12:15. They said it had to be an angel instead, Acts 12:15.
There is some humour in this story. Peter was so sleepy that it was hard to get him awake. The little girl who saw him at the door did not open it but ran instead, leaving Peter outside. The saints can’t believe her report. They said, “It is his angel.” Human nature can be humorous at times.
Peter, still outside, continues to knock at the door, Acts 12:16. They may have been fearful of opening the door as to who might be there. They do, and to their complete amazement, there stands Peter all alone, Acts 12:16.
They probably erupted into loud rejoicing. He motions with his hand for them to keep silent, Acts 12:17, as they do not want to wake up the neighbours. Peter then tells them how the Lord had made it possible for him to escape from the jail and its guards, Acts 12:17.
Yes, there was an angel, but the angel had done his work before Peter arrived at the door of Mary. Was John Mark present that night? What did this do for the faith of those saints?
Peter tells them to go to James (the Lord’s brother) and to the brethren, Acts 12:17. Obviously, there must have been groups meeting at different locations throughout the city that were praying for Peter. He wants them to know he is safely out of prison.
When dawn appears, can you imagine the shock that came over the guards when they discovered they no longer had Peter chained and guarded by them? We are told, “Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter,” Acts 12:18.
No doubt word reached Herod quickly. He “examines the guards and commands that they should be put to death,” Acts 12:19. He was so sure he had succeeded in keeping Peter in prison. What an embarrassment it must have been to this tyrant. It is God who receives the glory. Herod’s violent death is described in Acts 12:20-23.
We are told, “But the word of God grew and multiplied,” Acts 12:24. This is the last major event in the life of Peter reported in Acts. This ends the history of the early Church in Jerusalem (A.D. 30 to 44). Acts now focuses on Paul and his journeys.