A Bible Study on the Book of Acts Session 27
The Church of the Holy Apostles;
Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)
Study Guide – Acts 12.1-17, Homily 26
Chapter 12 v. 1-4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
This is not the same Herod as at the time of Jesus
SJC “Rest and trouble alternate in the whole texture of history.”
The greater the power, the greater the warfare – King Herod against the Church
John, Son of Zebedee – this is the same John who is present at the Transfiguration and the same John who went with his brother James to request to sit in honor when Jesus comes in His glory. (see Matthew 20.20-28 or Mark 10.35-45)
Chosen at random on Herod
God permitted for three reasons:
1. To reveal that even slain the Apostles prevail
2. To allow the Jews to recover from their madness
3. To show that it was by God’s providence
Herod killed John out of rage and fear
SJC “For that none may say that without danger or fear of danger they brave death, as being sure of God’s delivering them, therefore he permits some to be put to death, and chief men too. Stephen and James, thereby convincing their slayers themselves that not even these things make them fall away, and hinder them.”
Herod fed their [Jews] frenzy rather than quenching their thirst for murder
Chapter 12 v. 5-10 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.Famine becomes the means to salvation, a harbinger of blessings
Presence of Light so that Peter wouldn’t think it was a dream, but STILL he believed it was a dream
Peter was so prepared for death he was asleep
In order to show this was not a crafty escape, Peter is told to tight his shoes and get dressed, but don’t “rush”
SJC “The stricter the custody, the more wondrous the display.”
Good for Peter – he is more approved and can display his courage
The community was in total unity and constant prayer despite it being night
The angel protected Peter until his is totally out of harms’ way
SJC give Peter the benefit of the doubt in thinking this was a dream – “He might be reason of the excessive greatness of the things taking place. Do you mark what a thing it is for a miracle to be excessive? How it amazes the beholder?”
Chapter 12 v. 11-17 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Mary the mother of John-Mark – NOT the Theotokos
Affliction had make them watchful – SJC “For it is not by taking vengeance upon those who wronged them that God shows the greatness of the Gospel: but the wrong-doers themselves, without any harm happening to those, he shows what a mighty thing the afflictions in themselves are, that we may not seek in any wise deliverance from them, nor the avenging of our wrongs.”
Each person has a guardian angel
Parallel to Christ – “Go and tell these things to the brethren.”
Peter departs to avoid tempting God or getting further into temptation. IF it had been his guardian angel he wouldn’t have left.
Why did God send Peter and Angel but not Paul? Because Paul’s jailer was to be converted, and Peter was simply to be released from jail.
Teaching on “Struggle brings results” – (see Homily 26, pp 172-173)
- Never remain idle but always vigilant
- Both men and women must pray fervently at night
- Each house should be a church
- You have not worked harder than the others
- Your soul is much more valuable than gold
Life Application – Be Refreshed by God (Homily 26, pp 173)
- Christ spent the entire night in prayer to refresh Himself
- Just as the flowers are refreshed at night, so is your soul
- Without being refreshed by God, your soul will burn up in the heat of life