Read Acts 12.
In 47 B.C., Julius Caesar appointed Herod the Great to rule as king over Judea. Herod was part Jewish and was considered a friend to the Jews. He was the first of four generations of Herod's mentioned in the New Testament.
-Herod the Great murdered the Bethlehem boys under the age of two in Matthew 2.
-Herod Antipas executed John, the Baptist in Mark 6 and saw Jesus before him in Luke 23.
-Herod Agrippa I executed James, the brother of John, and sixteen of his trusted guards in Acts 12.
-Herod Agrippa II heard the testimony of the Apostle Paul in Acts 25-26.
The national rejection of Jesus as the Messiah did not stop with the crucifixion. The next goal was to put an end to any belief in Jesus. Herod was only too eager to seize upon the opportunity to increase his popularity and influence. We are not told why James had been singled out. But, seeing the response of the Jews to this execution, he set his sights on Peter. This time sixteen guards were assigned to secure Peter in prison in around the clock shifts.
Two lessons should be learned here by those who believe and those who do not.
1. Belief in Jesus is an eternal, spiritual commitment. No argument, governmental edict, prison, or execution has any power or authority against the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is unstoppable. Read the end of the Book. Jesus has already recorded the victory over all His enemies. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
2. Prayer works. We do not always know what the will of God is, but our faithfulness to ask and trust Him no matter the outcome is a command from Jesus. He will be honored by every life, one way or the other. Yes, Peter was delivered. No, James was not delivered. And, sooner or later, on God's timetable, all the enemies of Christ will receive their due. Herod refused to give God His rightful glory. He rejected Jesus, suffered at the end on earth, and is now in eternal suffering for his unwillingness to repent of his sin.
"But the word of God increased and multiplied." (v.24)
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