Kings and Rulers Rise Up Against the LORD and Christ

Acts 12:1-25

In Psalm 2, we read of a cosmic battle. The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together. They rage against the Lord and his anointed - his Christ. They don’t want his rule. But God laughs at them. Their rebellion will achieve nothing. He will judge them one day. Psalm 2 says he will break them with his iron scepter. But if they worship Christ, they will be shown mercy. Rulers will oppose the church, but God strikes back. And this has always been the case. There have always been 2 kingdoms since the fall - the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world. God rules his kingdom. And the kingdoms of this world are ruled by Satan. He’s called the prince of this world. In God’s kingdom, there’s genuine fellowship and love for man and God. On but in the kingdoms of this world, there’s are war, strife, and domination because love of self reigns.

As Christians, we live in Babylon. And yet, the kingdom of God is here - the church. We live in both. We pray for both. But one day, the New Jerusalem will come in its fullness and the world will be judged. Until then, there will be conflict. Jesus said - I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The world will resist the growth of God’s kingdom. Satan tempted Adam and Eve after God created them. Pharaoh ordered the male babies drowned, when Israel grew. The spies gave an evil report, when Israel almost possessed the land. Israel built a golden calf, right after the law was given. Herod killed babies, when Christ was born. Satan tempted him, when he prepared for his public ministry. And his people crucified him. We see the same thing here.

In today’s passage, we see the conflict between these 2 kingdoms. There are 3 points. Firstly, the kings and rulers rise up against God’s people. Secondly, God and his people rise up against Satan’s people. Thirdly, God breaks his enemies.

As the church grew, and Gentiles were saved, the people rejoiced. But not for long. Persecution hit at the heart of the church. James was killed. We see firstly, the kings and rulers rise up against God’s people. Verse 1 says, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.” In the past, the religious rulers attacked. Now it was the king - the political ruler. And he was a wicked ruler. He was Herod Agrippa - the grandson of Herod the Great - the one who tried to kill the infant Jesus. His uncle, Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptizer. These were wicked kings who tried to retain power by getting rid of competition and critics. The third generation was no different.

And what he did was to kill a good leader. Verse 2 - “And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” He took the apostle James, the son of Zebedee, the brother of John - and he beheaded him. Beheading was a capital punishment for political rebellion. His uncle did this to John the Baptizer. John spoke out against him because he divorced his wife and married the ex-wife of his half-brother. So John was guilty of treason. No doubt, Herod Antipas would’ve trumped up charges against him. Jesus described him well when he called him a fox. So now, the nephew killed James. But what were the treason charges? Who knows? If people gave false testimony against Jesus, they could’ve done it against his disciples. After that, he arrested Peter. And the reason why he did that was because he wanted popularity. He did it to please the people. “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)” His grandfather was a political man - he renovated the temple to get in good with the Jews. Now, he also did it to please the Jews. The killing of James pleased the Jews. Then when Herod saw how much it pleased them, he arrested Peter. This means, he was about to execute him. That was the purpose. Perhaps it pleased the Jews because Peter associated freely with the Gentiles now.

But Herod didn’t execute him right away. He imprisoned him - the most prominent leader of the Christians. Verse 4 says, “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.” Peter had 4 quaternions or 4 sections of 4 soldiers to watch him. They would take turns guarding him - four 6 hour shifts. And according to verse 6, he was chained to 2 soldiers, to the right and left, and 2 more were outside the cell guarding him. This was maximum security prison.

He was arrested on the feast of unleavened bread - that’s 7 days before Passover. His intention was to keep him there until after Passover. The KJV retained the word Easter from Tyndale. And why he did this was to have an audience at a public trial after Passover - just like Jesus did. Why execute in secret when you can do it publicly and gain recognition? Why bring up a grievance in private, when it can be done publicly for maximum damage? The kings and rulers rise up against God and his people.

But God responds. Secondly, God and his people rise up against Satan’s people. Sometimes God allows the world to win for awhile - so their loss would be even greater. But sometimes God does rise up immediately. Herod and the people didn’t succeed in killing Peter. As fervently as Herod tried to destroy the church, the church was fervently relying on God. They did so by praying. At Gethsemane, Jesus rebuked Peter for taking up the sword. He said they that take up the sword perish by the sword. Jesus said that he could pray, and God would send down 12 legions of fighting angels. These are the hosts of heaven. Prayer is more powerful than the sword. Which is why verse 5 says, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” As soon as he was imprisoned, they prayed. They didn’t cease until he was freed - as verse 6 says, on the evening of his trial. This meant that they prayed through Passover. As Christians, they didn’t celebrate it anymore. You don’t retake PSLEs once you’ve graduated university. Christ the passover lamb had already died and resurrected. They no longer needed a dead passover lamb. They had the living Savior. This is why they prayed. How much we believe in prayer shows when we come together for prayer.

As a result, Peter was delivered. In verses 6-11, God sent an angel to free him. But because Peter was soundly asleep, the angel nudged him on his side to wake him. He was sound asleep despite his next day trial. Would he be sentenced like James, Stephen, or Jesus? Yet, he slept soundly chained to 2 guards. But the disciples prayed and Peter was at peace with death. But it was not his time. Peter was delivered - this time. James died. No death can hinder the advancement of the church. But Peter was delivered here because Christ would still use him. His chains fell off, and he got up. The guards were still there. Verse 8 is significant; the angel said - “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals..and cast thy garment about thee and follow me.” It happened so fast that Peter himself thought he was dreaming. After putting on his shoes and coat, they walked past 2 guard houses, till they finally came to the iron gate of the prison, verse 10. It opened by itself. The Greek word is “automatos.” These were the first automatic gates ever. And when he was finally out of prison, the angel left him. So he went to the house church in Mary’s home. And when he knocked, Rhoda, Mary’s servant, heard his voice, and as she turned the handle, she rushed back to tell the people praying that Peter was at the gate - but she had left him there. They argued. No, it’s not Peter, she’s crazy! No, it’s not Peter, but his guardian angel. The Jews believed a person’s guardian angel looked like him. Well, what do we make of this. They prayed, but they didn’t expect God to answer in this miraculous way. And they still weren’t clear of pop religion. On the other hand, Peter experienced the answer to their prayers. Verse 11, he said - I know for sure that God has sent his angel and delivered me from Herod and the people’s plans.

Finally, he went in. He had to shush them to explain, verse 17. He told them that God had delivered him from prison. They were to report this to James, the half-brother of Jesus - who was now the leader of the church with his imprisonment and James’ execution. After this he escaped. This brief scene is significant. On this Passover evening, which they were not celebrating, they were again reminded of their own deliverance. This was Passover, about 14 years - after Christ’s own death and resurrection. Peter’s story would’ve affected them. He was told to fasten his sandals and tie his robe. Why? So he could escape faster. This meant something to them. In the Old Testament, God told them how to celebrate Passover. They were to eat quickly with shoes on their feet, their robes hiked up, and a staff in hand - all prepared to leave Egypt. Such visual and tangible signs were meant to rekindle their memory of their national redemption. It also caused them likely to remember what Jesus did. He tied an apron around his waist, and removed their sandals to wash their feet. And hearing from Peter, they would’ve remembered. Also, her told them an angel helped him escape. It was an angel that delivered Israel from Egypt by striking down the Egyptians. Just as God delivered him, God delivered their people. And just as it was 14 years ago, when Jesus was struck dead on Passover, the grave couldn’t hold him. An angel rolled back the stone. He appeared to Mary who went to tell disbelieving disciples. Now, Peter’s prison couldn’t hold him, and he appeared to Mary’s servant who went to tell the disbelieving disciples. These were all signs that the church would flourish, and their enemies would be punished. This assurance would’ve been further confirmed. That year, Herod died, verse 23. It was AD 44.

The kings and rulers rise up against God and his anointed. But God will laugh with derision. He will have the final say. He will break them with his iron scepter. Sometimes God will wait, but other times he will not. Here, thirdly, we see he rightly breaks his enemies - from the smallest to the great. He breaks the smallest. Verses 18-19 say that as soon as it was day, the soldiers were frantic because Peter was not there. When Herod found out, he sentenced the guards to death. A guard who loses a prisoner pay for that prisoner’s crimes. Peter was the most wanted man in that day. So his release, though good for him and the Christians, was bad for the Roman soldiers. Similarly, the deliverance of Israel was bad for Egypt. In the end, Pharaoh and his army drowned in the water that delivered Israel. As we look at this, we may be tempted to pity the Roman soldiers. But they were guilty. While they were the smallest part of God’s enemies, they were still enemies. Did the smallest of the Canaanites not have great sin, when Israel entered the land? Yes. God commanded their annihilation. Did the smallest child of Babylon not bear the guilt of her people? Yes. God brought swift punishment by the hands of the Persians. Were the first born in Egypt innocent? No one is without sin. And that’s why God punished his only begotten Son so sinners could be saved.

But God not only judged the smallest, but the greatest. It’s the kings and rulers that take counsel together. Here we see the death of Herod. After these events, he went to Caesarea. But in verse 20, something happened in Tyre and Sidon that angered Herod. Because they relied on trade with Galilee, they had to make peace with him. They sent a delegation and Blastus, Herod’s assistant, put in a good word. So there was an official meeting with Herod. He wore his official robes and he spoke to them. And they flattered him - “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.” They knew Herod wanted man’s praise. That’s what the kings and rulers of the world want. But this was blasphemy! And Herod accepted it. Verse 23 says, “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.” The angel that nudged Peter, struck Herod with a disease. Josephus records that his garment was made of the most incredible silver texture - and it reflected the sun’s rays. He wrote - ”his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god…A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner…when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life.”

Now, we’re not exactly sure what pain or disease this was. But it was painful. Worms ate him before he died. As terrible as it was, we should recognize a deeper significance. God predicted a time when Satan himself will be judged. God will break the god of this world once and for all. Isaiah 14:11-12 says about Satan - “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Herod’s death was a message to Satan. He should’ve already got that message at the cross. But this was another reminder. Pharaoh drowned in the Red Sea. Jezebel was thrown out her tower and eaten by dogs. Haman was impaled on the gallows he built. Herod had a wormy death. But Satan will have his place in the lake of fire - where the worm never dies.

As a result of this triumph, the kingdom of God progressed. Verse 24 - “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” And in verse 25, after delivering money, Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch. And they took John Mark with them - that’s Mary’s son. He saw what happened and gave his life for the gospel. The persecution was bad, it passed, they moved on. The church marched on. It’d be persecuted again. But nothing will stop its march. It’s glorious now, but one day it’ll be magnificent. The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together. But God will laugh and will deliver that final blow. He’ll take up his church and we’ll feast together at that Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Dearly beloved, we live for a better kingdom. We celebrate our national day soon. God bless our nation with many more fruitful years with faithful and godly leaders. But this is the truth - they will not love the church. They may tolerate the church. They may even one day oppose the church. And this is why we pray. And we continue to be witnesses for Christ. We are facing serious issues in this nation today - but we are hopeful in Christ. Our hope must not be in what a better nation we can be - because we live for a better country - a heavenly one. But let’s serve Christ now in the world, if at all possible, that the gospel will be propagated in a land of peace.

But we have a much better emblem and holiday than the 9th of August. We have the Lord’s Day. We have the Lord’s Supper. It is a reminder to us that Christ reigns. His kingdom - there is no end. He rules in righteousness. And that’s why we pray and preach the gospel. The sword is not our weapon, but prayer and the gospel are. In our national decline, have we been fervently praying and preaching? Perhaps we need to ask for forgiveness. We have not watched and prayed. Like the disciples on Passover wouldn’t watch and pray - we have given into temptation. We have not put on the sandals of the gospel nor the breastplate of righteousness. Perhaps we have been so preoccupied with our lives and our work and the daily grind in this kingdom, that we have forgotten what Christ has done to rescue us for the kingdom above.

We also recognize that in certain things the world seems to be winning. We hear countless Christians despairing. But the Lord’s Supper - the Christian passover - reminds us that we will drink of the cup anew with Jesus at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This means that Jesus wins. And so does his church. Will you be counted among that number? Young people…

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