Jesus had predicted the martyrdom of James. When he and his brother John asked to be able to sit one at the right hand and the other at the left hand of Jesus in His coming kingdom, He answered them: “can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto Him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized” (Mar. 10:37-39). Jesus was referring to His death on the cross, speaking of Himself, and of the murder of James.
“And because he [Herod] saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (Acts 12: 3-4). This is what King Herod decided to do, but God had another plan: He wanted to save Peter:
We observe that Peter, knowing that Herod was going to kill him the next day, was fast asleep — the result of a mind at peace! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)).
What an answer to his prayers!
“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him” (Acts 12:7-107And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. (Acts 12:7‑10)).
God’s angels are marvelous beings: it is written in Psalm 103:2020Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. (Psalm 103:20) that they “excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” They also possess an intelligence that is infinitely above man’s. Among so many other tasks, the Lord has given them a very special charge: to take care of His redeemed ones: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)). And once their service is no longer needed, they leave: “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” (Acts 12:1111And 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. (Acts 12:11)). James’ faithful testimony was finished and sealed with his blood; but Peter’s was not yet over. He would have to feed the flock of the Lord (mainly among the Jews) according to His commandment: “Feed My sheep” (John 21:1717He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)). So the Lord sent His angel and rescued Peter, who realized what had happened after the angel had gone, leaving him in a safe place.
“And when he had considered the thing, 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 damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate” (Acts 12:12-1412And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. (Acts 12:12‑14)). Peter knew where to go: to his brothers in Christ. Rhoda was a faithful Christian: although she was a young woman, she still attended the prayer meeting. She was very attentive as well, since, while the other believers heard Peter’s knock on the door, they did not react. She was the one who answered the door. Since she likely attended the meetings regularly, she immediately recognized Peter’s voice. However, she was almost overcome with joy and did not open the door, but rather ran inside to spread the news!
“And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel” (v. 15). Their fervent prayers for Peter ended in disbelief! How unbelieving we are!
“But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place” (vvs. 16-17). Peter told them how (not the angel, but rather) the Lord had freed him from prison — recognizing the Lord Jesus’ goodness and mercy. Then he left for another place as a measure of security, since, although the rescue was miraculous, exposing himself in the city again would have been to tempt God.
But the words “he departed, and went into another place” have a spiritual meaning, since the Lord was about to send Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles, now that the Jews had rejected the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Peter disappeared.
“Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death” (vvs. 18-19). There is no doubt that the 16 Roman guards did not treat the Christian prisoner, Peter, well, just as they did not treat Jesus well. Maybe they mocked him. In any case, they had to pay the price: Herod killed them. But, what about him and his cruelty? We see him in the next passage:
“And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (vvs. 19-23). God had meekly put up with a lot from that vessel of wrath prepared for death (see Rom. 9:2222What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22)), not executing him for having killed James. But when Herod accepted the homage that belongs to God alone, he was executed — eaten with worms.
“But the Word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:2424But the word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:24)). The worms multiplied and ended the wickedness of Herod, enemy of the Christians. But, on the other hand, the living and effective Word of God was multiplied and was an enormous blessing.
“And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark” (v. 25). As we noticed in the previous study, Barnabas and Paul, two apostles, did the service of a pair of deacons. They were sent by the Antioch assembly during the famine among the brothers in Judea, to whom they brought material help — proof of the Christian love of the Gentile brothers towards their Jewish brothers. Returning to Antioch, they brought with them John Mark “the nephew of Barnabas” (Col. 4:1010Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) (Colossians 4:10)). The Lord’s call to His service does not care about the natural relationship that exists among Christians; just like in this case, as we will see.