December 4, 2024

Acts 12 begins ominously. “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.” One of those that he laid violent hands on was James, the brother of John. Herod actually executed James. It was the second public execution of an early church leader, the first being Stephen. Herod discovered that this scored him some political points with some of the Jews, so he arrested Peter and was planning on his execution as well. That one didn’t work out. The night before Peter was to die, an angel of the Lord escorted Peter out of his maximum-security cell. The believers who were praying for Peter’s release were stunned and overjoyed when he showed up and broke up the prayer meeting.

I do not know if James was married and if he was, was his widow at the prayer meeting for Peter? I’ve often wondered why God let Herod execute James, but not Peter. That is not for me to know at this time. But at the beginning of chapter 12, Herod is a serious threat to the church and is seeking to enhance his standing by attacking the believers. However, even kings are not ultimately in charge. Later in that same chapter Luke tells us that Herod was giving an oration to the citizens of Tyre and Sidon and they were flattering him by shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” When the gasoline of flattery is poured on the flame of insecurity, expect a massive explosion of pride. In that moment Herod was all too willing to believe his audience and was drinking in the praise when God yanked his chain. “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down … and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” (v.23)

At the beginning of this chapter, Herod’s voice of authority is a terror. By the end of the chapter, his voice is silenced. When rulers and movements arise that concern us, we are right to pray and ask God for relief, grace, and comfort. And we can pray with confidence that while relief in the moment is not guaranteed, in the end, God’s Word always outlasts the word of man.

Immediately after saying that Herod breathed his last, Luke then states, “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” (v.24) Oh beloved since the Word of God and the plan of God cannot be stopped, you will never go wrong believing God, no matter what. You have God’s very words in your Bible. Read it, so that you might know what to believe. Study it, that your belief may go deeper and wider. Trust it that you might be at peace and that your joy may be full.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Isaiah 9:6