The document provides a summary of Acts 12:1-25 from the Bible. It discusses how Herod imprisoned and planned to kill Peter after already executing James. The church prayed fervently for Peter, and an angel rescued him from prison. Herod then died after accepting glory that belonged to God. The document analyzes the key events and lessons, including how prayer is powerful, pride is a sin, and Christians' goal is to glorify God rather than themselves. It closes with the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Acts 12:1-25
My Chains Are Gone
“Extraordinary”
May 29, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
http://berylloeb.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/one-finger.jpg

3. The Glory of God!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdKEr1hZ7iI/TWY2eWJdLoI/AAAAAAAAAgw/V0dVLTrGG1g/s1600/Glory.jpg

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God.

5. May Memory Verse
John 13:34-35 ESV
34
“A new commandment I give to you; that
you love one another: just as I have loved
you, you also are to love one another. 35
By
this all people will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.”

6. Memorial Day:
They gave their life in military service.

7. References
•Stott, John R. W., The Message of Acts (Downers
Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, USA, 1994).
•ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible (Wheaton,
IL, 2008)
•Maier, Paul L., EUSEBIUS: The Church History (Kregel
Publications, Grand Rapid, MI, 2007).

8. Introduction to Acts 12
•Acts 10 – Peter’s vision, salvation of Cornelius and the
Gentiles, Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles, and baptism
of the Gentile believers.
•Acts 11 – Peter reports the events of Acts 10 to the
church in Jerusalem; Barnabas and Paul go to the
growing church in Antioch for a year; The prophet
Agabus predicts a famine (45-47 AD).

9. Acts 12:1-3 ESV
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on
some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James
the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw
that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter
also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

10. Acts 12:4-5 ESV
4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison,
delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard
him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to
the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest
prayer for him was made to God by the church.

11. The Events in Acts 12:1-5
1. Herod is persecuting the church.
2. James, the brother of John, is martyred.
3. Peter is arrested and scheduled for killing after the
Passover.
4. The church begins praying earnestly for Peter.

12. Herod (King of Judea A.D. 37-44)
•Herod is Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the
Great an Idumean (Descendants of Esau - Edomites).
•Herod Agrippa I was reared in Rome.
•Friends with Roman emperors Gaius (Caligula) and
Claudius.
•Granted rule over various territories in Judea until his
kingdom reached the extent of his grandfather.

13. The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I

14. Herod is persecuting the church (Christians).
•Herod was anxious to preserve the Roman peace in
Palestine and disliked disruptive minorities.
•Herod was seeking to ingratiate himself to the Jews by
observing the laws and persecuting Christians.
•The Jews still despised him for his Roman upbringing
and Edomite ancestry.

15. James, the brother of John, was martyred.
•He was beheaded with a sword.
•Beheading indicates the crime of leading people to
follow false gods (Deut. 13:12-15).
•In Book 7 by Clement (Philippians 4:3) writes that
James’ escort into court accepted Christ and asked to
be beheaded along with James.
•Jesus warned James and John that they would
participate in his sufferings (Matt. 10:38-39).

16. Peter is arrested and scheduled for trial.
•Herod wanted to gain more favor with the Jews by
scheduling Peter for trial and beheading.
•There could be no executions during Passover.
•In Herod’s mind the executions and persecutions were
for political reasons.

17. Peter’s Cell in the Tower of Antonia.
•A military barracks built by Herod the Great in 31 BC.
•Named for his patron, Mark Antonia.
•Located at the northwestern corner of the temple
complex.

18. Tower of Antonia

19. Tower of Antonia

20. The church began praying earnestly for Peter.
•Peter had already been imprisoned twice before by
the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:3 & 5:18).
•He had been freed from jail by an angel in Acts 5.
•Earnest was the adjective to describe Jesus’ prayer in
Gethsemane where He sweat drops of blood in Luke
22:44.
•The church used its’ most powerful weapon of prayer.

21. Acts 12:6-7 ESV
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that
very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
bound with two chains, and sentries before the door
were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He
struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up
quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.

22. Acts 12:8-9 ESV
8 And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on
your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him,
"Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." 9 And he
went out and followed him. He did not know that what
was being done by the angel was real, but thought he
was seeing a vision.

23. Acts 12:10-11 ESV
10 When they had passed the first and the second
guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city.
It opened for them of its own accord, and they went
out and went along one street, and immediately the
angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said,
"Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that
the Jewish people were expecting."

24. Acts 12:12-14 ESV
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the
mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many
were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he
knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named
Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her
joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that
Peter was standing at the gate.

25. Acts 12:15-17 ESV
15 They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she
kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is
his angel!" 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when
they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But
motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he
described to them how the Lord had brought him out
of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James
and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to
another place.

26. Acts 12:18-19 ESV
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance
among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And
after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he
examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put
to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and
spent time there.

27. God’s Intervention and Peter’s Passivity.
•Peter was asleep and the angel had to nudge him.
•The chains fell off (probably still locked).
•The guards had been put into a “sleep” and the prison
gate opened automatically.
•Peter did not know if it was a dream or reality.
•The guards were executed because of Peter’s escape.
•Peter had probably witnessed to the guards.

28. Herod’s death in 44 AD
Acts 12:20-23

29. Acts 12:20 ESV
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and
Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and
having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they
asked for peace, because their country depended on
the king's country for food.

30. What is going on here?
•Herod did not want to export food to Tyre & Sidon.
•They used Herod’s chamberlain to get an audience
with him (bribe?).
•They were dependent on the King for food during the
famine in the area.
•The meeting probably occurred in Caesarea.

31. Acts 12:21-22 ESV
21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes,
took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration
to them. 22 And the people were shouting, "The voice of
a god, and not of a man!"

32. The Meeting with Herod.
•Josephus describes Herod’s robe as ‘made wholly of
silver and of a contexture truly wonderful’.
•It reflected brightly in the morning sun making Herod
look like a god.
•The people were shouting praises to Herod, but their
motive was to get food from him.

33. Herod’s Royal Robe

34. Acts 12:23 ESV
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down,
because he did not give God the glory, and he was
eaten by worms and breathed his last.
•Josephus says ‘a severe pain arose in his belly’ and
Herod had to be carried inside where he died 5 days
later in excruciating pain.

35. What was Herod’s sin here?
•He glorified himself and not God.
•Is this the sin of pride?
•A modern song by Mac Davis describes Herod: “It’s
Hard To Be Humble”.

36. “It’s Hard To Be Humble” by Mac Davis
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait
To look in the mirror.
Cause I get better looking each day.
To know me is to love me.
I must be a heck of a man.
Oh Lord It's hard to be humble,
But I'm doing the best that I can.

37. Why is the sin of pride so bad?
•Pride is rebellion against God because it attributes to
oneself honor and glory due to God alone.
•Some consider it to be the root and essence of sin,
while others consider it to be sin in its final form.
•1 Peter 5:5b ESV
5b Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward
one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble."

38. Lessons from Acts 12
•Peter’s imprisonment and release is a prototype of the
bondage of sin and the freedom that comes with
salvation.
•Romans 6:6-7 ESV
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in
order that the body of sin might be brought to
nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to
sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

39. Lessons from Acts 12
Chris Tomlin’s Song Amazing Grace
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

40. Lessons from Acts 12
• One of the greatest weapons the church has is the power
of fervent prayer.
• James 5:16 ESV
16 The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
much.
• “Prayer does not equip you for greater works. Prayer is the
greater work.” (Oswald Chambers)

41. Lessons from Acts 12
•God is very displeased when we glorify ourselves and
commit the sin of pride and idolatry.
•Acts 12:22-23 ESV
22 And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god,
and not of a man!" 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord
struck him down, because he did not give God the
glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his
last.

42. Let’s look at giving God the glory!
•What is glory?
• Honor or the quality of importance; “To recognize the
importance of another”.
•“Glory is the side of God which humans recognize and
to which humans respond in confession, worship and
praise.” (Stott)

43. Why should we give God glory?
•Old Testament – “Hebrew word kavod” to give weight.
• God is the creator of the universe, the sustainer of life,
holy, perfect, divine power, protector of His people….
•New Testament – “Greek word doxa” means majesty.
• The divine glory of God is extended to Christ as God’s son
and Savior of all mankind.

44. Scripture References of Jesus’ Glory
• Luke 9:32 ESV (Transfiguration of Jesus)
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy
with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his
glory and the two men who stood with him.
• John 1:14 ESV
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the
Father, full of grace and truth.

45. The Christian’s goal is to bring glory to Jesus
and not to yourself.
• Matthew 6:2 ESV
2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet
before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say
to you, they have received their reward.
• John 5:44 ESV
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one
another and do not seek the glory that comes from the
only God?

46. What’s the number one thing?
•Colossians 3:17 ESV
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.

47. Christians should look to receive praise and
honor from Christ.
• Romans 2:6-8 ESV
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to
those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and
honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for
those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

48. Christians should look to receive praise and
honor from Christ.
•Philippians 2:14-16 ESV
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that
you may be blameless and innocent, children of God
without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the
day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain
or labor in vain.

49. Acts 12:24-25 ESV
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they
had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose
other name was Mark.
• “The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and
Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free, and
the word of God triumphing. Such is the power of God to
overthrow hostile human plans and to establish his own in
their place”. (Stott)

50. Closing Thoughts
•What is the one thing God does not share with man?
•Answer: His Glory.
•Our lives should reflect God’s glory and not glorify
ourselves!

51. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death
explained in Revelation 21:8.

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,
which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his
God and he will be my son.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquers.

55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
If you have questions or would like to know more, Please,
contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/