Acts 12:20-25

Sunday Morning Bible Study

February 22, 1998

Introduction

Last week we saw the beginning of a new wave of persecution against the early church, this time from Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, King of Palestine AD 42 to 44.

Herod had the apostle James, the brother of John, beheaded, and then proceeded to have Peter arrested. The night before Peter was to be executed, an angel of the Lord rescued Peter from the prison, and Herod had the guards put to death for letting him escape.

Herod has now gone to live in Caesarea, the Roman capital of the region.

:20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon

highly displeased – thumomacheo – the word means literally "fighting anger", to be very, very angry, enough to go to war over.

These cities were on the coast, north of Palestine, made up the area known as "Phoenicia", and were governed by Syria. They were known throughout the world for their shipping, being centers of world trade. These were not cities that Herod had authority over. We don’t know why he was displeased. But apparently Herod had retaliated and set up some kind of economic embargo against them.

:20 but they came with one accord to him

The idea is that the ambassadors of Tyre and Sidon got together and presented their needs jointly.

:20 and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend

chamberlain – literally, "the one over the bed chamber", the closest of officials to the king, one who had access to the king when others didn’t.

having made … their friend – literally, "having persuaded", probably by using bribes.

Blastus was an "insider", an "FOH" (Friend Of Herod). Perhaps they made donations to Blastus’ re-election campaign or something. There’s nothing new under the sun.

:20 desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

This is an issue of economics. Herod was angry with these cities and refused to trade with them. And now they aren’t doing well with Herod’s economic embargo. So they sent ambassadors to make things better, to do whatever it took to make their economy better.

It kind of reminds me of today. We don’t know what President Clinton has done or not done in his private life. But the public opinion polls of the American people indicate that the people like him very much. They like him because our economy is doing so well. And the polls show that because we’re doing so well economically, half of the public doesn’t care what President Clinton indulges in during his spare time.

Lesson:

Be careful what you will compromise for.

May God help us if we as a nation are willing to compromise our moral standards for the sake of a good economy.

(Prov 14:34 KJV) Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Is there a temptation to compromise in our private lives as well? Are we willing to cheat a little on our income taxes to save a few bucks?

:21 And upon a set day Herod … made an oration

Josephus’ account of Herod Agrippa’s death, as he came to one of the festivals he had organized to honor Caesar –

"On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of texture truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the morning, at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him. And presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, (though not for his good,) that he was a god. And they added, -"Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery."

It was then that he was struck with a pain in his gut. He died five days later.

:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

gave a shout – imperfect tense, lit., "the people were continually shouting …"

Some have suggested that Herod may have been using the festival to make an announcement of an agreement with the cities of Tyre and Sidon, and that the ambassadors had stirred up the people to respond this way to Herod.

:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him

smote – patasso – to strike gently. This was the same word used to describe how an angel woke up Peter while he was sleeping in prison (12:7).

We kind of think of Peter being woken by a little poke by an angel. I’m not sure it’s any different here with Herod. An angel doesn’t need to exert much effort.

:23 because he gave not God the glory

This is the reason why Herod died. He had received the kind of honor and glory that should be reserved for God, and he knew enough to have rejected it.

In contrast, when the people of Lystra saw Paul heal a crippled man, and they decided that Paul and Barnabas must be gods –

(Acts 14:14-15 KJV) Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, {15} And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

What is pride?

The Old Testament words for pride (and there are several) all seem to carry the idea of being "lofty", or being "swelled up".

In the New Testament one word used for pride (huperephanos, Mar. 7:22) literally means "to shine above", meaning to make yourself more visible than others, showing yourself better than others. Another word (tuphoo, 1Tim.6:4) literally means "to raise up smoke", the idea of wrapping yourself up in something that’s pretty impressive, but is nothing more than smoke.

Pride is the feeling that you have it all, you need nobody, especially God –

Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Pride leads to destruction –

Pr 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is a sign of the times –

(2 Tim 3:1-2 KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

I noticed at a doctor’s office that there’s even a magazine for it, called "Self".

Lesson #1:

God hates pride

Pr 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

(Isa 42:8 KJV) I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Probably one of the greatest reasons that God hates pride is because it will keep you from seeking God since you won’t think you even need Him –

Ps 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.

God knows you need help, and He hates pride because it keeps you from coming to Him when you need Him.

Lesson #2:

Be humble or be humbled.

King Nebuchadnezzar was a great man. He conquered the world. He founded the Babylonian empire. He built the city of Babylon and it’s hanging gardens, making one of the "Seven Wonders of the World". He was mentioned by name in the Scriptures as a "servant of God", being used by God to bring judgment on the backslidden nation of Judah (Jer. 25:9; 27:6; 43:10).

But there came a day when his pride simply went too far, while he was walking and admiring his grand palace,

(Dan 4:30-31 KJV) The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? {31} While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to lose his mind, and he became like an animal for a period of time, until he humbled his heart.

(Dan 4:34 KJV) And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

You can choose to be humble, or you can let God do it for you.

Lesson:

Practical Humility – how to be humble

1) Admit your sins and faults.

Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: {10} Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. {11} The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. {12} I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. {13} And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. {14} I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I think this can also work in our relationships as well. Are you a person who can say those two awful words, "I’m sorry". Or even worse, "I was wrong"?

2) Be glad about your weaknesses

(2 Cor 12:7-10 KJV) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. {8} For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. {9} And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. {10} Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Illustration:

There may be aspects of yourself that you consider to be a "weakness". I find it rather hard to admit to being overweight. I cringe when one of my children tell me I have a "fat tummy". It’s not that I have anything against a healthy diet or exercising, but I’m beginning to find that maybe I should be a little glad that I don’t have to worry about being proud of my physique! And little comments about my shape, as hurting as they can be, can help keep me humble, and not being a ball of pride.

We usually try to cover up our weaknesses, but in a way, God can use them not only to keep us humble, but to make us cling that much more to Him.

3) Serve others

John 13:3-5 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; {4} He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. {5} After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

If you’re too good to get up and take care of someone else’s needs, then you’ve got too much pride.

(Phil 2:3-4 NASB) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; {4} do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

One way that displays how we are thinking of the interests of others is how we play games with our kids. When it hurts to have your 10 year old beat you at video games, you have too much pride. If you can’t allow your kids to taste victory by letting them beat you once in a while, you’ve got too much pride.

:23 and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Keep in mind, Luke is a doctor. He knows about these kinds of things.

This same kind of death also happened to Antiochus Epiphanes, the arrogant Syrian ruler of the Greek Empire who brought much persecution to the Jews, even desecrating their temple in 165 BC. This account comes from the history of 2Maccabees. –

2Ma 9:9-12 And so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and because of his stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay. 10 Because of his intolerable stench no one was able to carry the man who a little while before had thought that he could touch the stars of heaven.

:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied

grew – auxano – to grow like a living organism.

We saw this happen before –

Ac 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Back in chapter 6, this was during one of the brief periods of peace in the church. Peter and John had been arrested, but had been released and left alone. The persecution headed by Saul, provoked by the preaching of Stephen, was just around the corner.

Yet here, it seems that this is coming at the time of Herod’s persecution, with the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter.

Lesson:

Hard times bring growth.

We may not want to hear this, but one of the chief things that bring growth in our lives is difficult times.

Illustration

We see it out in the garden, how a plant needs to be pruned for healthy growth. Every year I have to prune our rose bushes down to the nubs, but when I do, that spring we have the most beautiful roses.

Jesus said,

(John 15:1-3 KJV) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. {2} Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. {3} Now ye are clean {"pruned", "purged"} through the word which I have spoken unto you.

I think it’s interesting that Jesus said that His disciples were "pruned" ("clean") through the Word He had spoken to them.

James wrote,

(James 1:2-4 NASB) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. {4} And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Illustration

A vacationer watched with curiosity as a lumberman occasionally jabbed his sharp hook into a log, separating it from the others that were floating down a mountain stream. When asked why he did this, the worker replied, "These may all look alike to you, but a few of them are quite different. The ones I let pass are from trees that grew in a valley where they were always protected from the storms. Their grain is coarse. The ones I've hooked and kept apart from the rest came from high up on the mountains. From the time they were small, they were beaten by strong winds. This toughens the trees and gives them a fine and beautiful grain. We save them for choice work. They're too good to make into plain lumber."

When you allow yourself to be bettered in your trials, you become a choice treasure to the Lord.

Lesson:

Don’t stop praying.

I can’t help but wonder if some of what we see is at least in part due to the fact that the church had been praying.

(Acts 12:5 KJV) Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Dr. Alan Redpath: "Let’s keep our chins up and our knees down—we’re on the victory side!"

:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem

Note: They are returning from Jerusalem.

Barnabas was originally sent out by the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:22) in order to see how things were going with the new Gentile converts. When he got to Antioch, he stayed and began to minister to the people, bringing Saul alongside as a helper. Now Jerusalem is not their home church. Their home church is Antioch.

Lesson:

Where’s your home church?

I get concerned with what I see in some churches, where people kind of go from church to church, never settling down anywhere.

I feel it’s very important for a person so commit to a single church. Even if that church isn’t perfect. And I don’t mean just signing a membership application, or just showing up on Sunday mornings. I’m talking about being an active part. Working at getting to know others. Finding out what you can do for others in the church.

God has given each of us spiritual gifts and natural talents that help to make up who we are as individuals (1Cor.12). And each of us has been designed to be a "part of the body", like an organ in your physical body. Each part has a place. Each part contributes to the others. Each of us needs all the parts. Yet when you choose not to get "too close" to a church, it’s like having a liver that won’t function, or a kidney that won’t filter. The whole body is affected.

One of the things I love about my wife’s ministry with the women is how hard she works at getting other people involved. Out of the sixty ladies at this weekend’s retreat, probably half of them have specific responsibilities during the weekend. I wish we could do that more in the men’s ministry, except I’m not sure which guys would like to be in charge of decorating rooms or making table displays!

Your home church doesn’t have to be Calvary Fullerton. There are lots of wonderful churches to be committed to. Just be committed.

:25 when they had fulfilled their ministry

Last week we saw the reason why Barnabas and Saul went to Jerusalem in the first place, to take financial gifts from the church in Antioch, to the people in Jerusalem (Acts 11:28-30). Now they’ve finished their job. They’ve fulfilled their ministry.

:25 and took with them John, whose surname was Mark

We saw that Peter, when he was freed from jail by the angel, went to Mary’s house, who was the mother of John Mark.

I wonder if Barnabas and Saul had been around when Peter was arrested and then freed by an angel.