Detainment, Delivery, and Denial
Acts Chapter 12:1-16
We are continuing in the Book of Acts today – looking at chapter 12 where we are going to see a roller-coaster ride in the life of one Apostle Peter.
Really God is doing some amazing things in the life of His followers – the gospel is now going forth to the Gentiles, Paul has come to the knowledge of the truth, Christianity is gaining momentum, as we saw earlier:
Acts 11:25-26 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
God is at work – training and teaching His people – building leadership to impact this world!
Just as we see throughout all history – as God begins working in one direction to accomplish His plan, Satan will seek to counteract and stop that plan from coming to fruition – thus, we come to chapter 12.
Lets begin our study of this chapter looking at:
1) THE DETAINMENT
Acts 12:1-5 1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4And 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. 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Satan had to do something to try and stop this locomotive – really, nothing like a public execution to seek to stifle a movement!
Satan is so completely predictable! Granted, he is incredibly crafty, deceitful, and powerful too – but he is also so predictable! Have you ever noticed how opposition came in the ministry of Christ?
Time and time again, after healing the blind, the lame, the leper, the one possessed with devils the scribes and Pharisees would come out to question what it was Jesus was doing – and accuse Him of blaspheme.
This is recorded no less than three times in Matthew:
Matthew 9:32-34 32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
Matthew 10:24-25 24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matthew 12:22-24 22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Key, pin-point attacks against the character of Christ – of who He was – Satan has not stopped these attacks – He still brings his arsenal against the body of Christ.
He targets leaders!
Who were the top three disciples closest to Christ?
(Invited to the transfiguration and raising of the 12 yr old damsel?)
PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN
Who do we see Satan target here? PETER AND JAMES
Acts 12:4 4And 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.
James is dead – killed by Herod, and Peter is in prison – soon to join him!
This passage shows how incredibly much Satan hates the church of God – not only is Peter in prison, not only does he have sixteen trained Roman soldiers watching over him, in just a verse we are going to find him:
Acts 12:6 6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
Sleeping between two of these sixteen soldiers, bound with not one but – TWO chains – and keepers watching the door.
Peter is some dangerous kind of guy – TOP FIVE ON JERUSALEM’S MOST WANTED LIST!
Really – Peters detainment couldn’t have been made any more safe – his fate is all but sealed – he is going to lose his life just as his friend and fellow disciple James.
What does the church do? Plan a prison break? Dynamite the prison walls and break him out?
NO –THEY DO SOMETHING SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN THAT!
Acts 12:5 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Prayer is made without ceasing of the church unto God specifically FOR HIM!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Colossians 4:2-4 2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
There is more than one type of door that can be opened while in prison!
In Peter’s case it is the physical, literal type of door that is opened – lets look at the DELIVERY!
2) THE DELIVERY
Acts 12:6-11 6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7And, 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. 11And 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.
Now this is just a fantastic delivery passage – so fantastic that I have already preached it: maybe you remember “Jail House Rocks” where we took an in depth look at this passage and all of the pictures that God paints in it.
From the “light shining in a dark place”
To Peter being “smote on the side”, “raised up”, “girding himself”
And the “Iron gate of the city opening of his own accord”
I really don’t want to take the time and re-preach all of the amazing things that God did in this delivery,
But, I do want to emphasize how there were no smoke and mirrors involved here.
No magic hand-cuffs that slip right off before the smoke clears, no tricks or stunts – this is a real prison, real chains, with real soldiers, and a real city gate fashioned to prevent people from going in and out.
The most impressive devices and deliberations of man are no match for the awesome power of God!
I know that we believe that with all our heart:
1 Corinthians 1:25 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
But so often in the heat of the battle, in the moment of adversity in this life, we forget the things that we believe, and quite honestly can sometimes act as if we never believed them at all!
That is why, over and over, God reminds the preachers of the Word of God to “Put them in remembrance”
1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:14, 2 Peter 1:12, Jude 1:5
In this passage we see an amazing DELIVERANCE of Peter – so amazing that we find the people in DENIAL!
3) THE DENIAL
Acts 12:12-16 12And 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. 15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Peter has just been delivered from his prison – released into the city, and he can hardly believe it – he was in DENIAL himself why this whole thing was shaking out!
Acts 12:9 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.
Where does Peter go but to the house of John Marks mother (Mary) to find refuge and shelter.
And when he gets there, guess what they are doing?
Acts 12:12 12And 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.
They are praying! I wonder for whom? Remember verse 5?
Acts 12:5 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
These believers are having a prayer meeting – praying for Peter without ceasing – and God has answered their prayers in an incredible way!!!!
What a time of rejoicing right? Lets all celebrate the incredible power of our GOD!
So Peter knocks on the door: Acts 12:13-14 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.
Rhoda is so excited to hear Peter’s voice – she doesn’t even let him in! She runs and tells the others about it – time to rejoice right? God has magnificently answered our prayers! RIGHT?
Check out their response here:
Acts 12:15 15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE HER! THEY CALLED HER CRAZY! (MAD)
She begins to argue with them – constantly affirming that it was him, and then they say something rooted entirely in their own traditions and superstitions - It is his angel.
The Jews believed in guardian angels that often took the shape of the person they cared for; in addition, they also sometimes supposed that the souls of dead men acted as messengers of God.
Anything but the truth!
As they are contending one against another, Peter is still standing outside! KNOCKING!
Acts 12:16 16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
SO WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?
1) Satan will stop at nothing to oppose those who call themselves Christians. He hates the body of Christ, just as he hated Christ as He walked this earth in the flesh. He will target and attack any and all spiritual threats to his diabolical plan.
1 Peter 5:8-9 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2) There is no PRISON strong enough to withstand the POWER OF GOD:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
There is no stronghold PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, or HABITUAL that can OVERPOWER our God and what He wants to do in the lives of His children!
3) We have an incredible CONFIDENCE and SECURITY that comes from our relationship with GOD!
1 John 5:13-15 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
What kind of a target do you have on your back today?
What prisons are in your life?
Do you have confidence in God to rescue from them?
The early church at times didn’t either!
There is always hope!
Lets pray
