PART 14

PART 14OPPOSITION WITHOUT

Acts 12: Who’s Herod?• A brief family history…–Herod the Great• Expanded the second temple.• Killed baby boys in and around Bethlehem.•Did not kill John the Baptist.

–Herod Antipas•Married Herodias, his niece and brother’s wife.

Acts 12: Who’s Herod?–Herod Antipas• Executed John the Baptist•Wanted to execute Jesus Christ (Luke 13)• Could have stopped Jesus’ execution.•Marriage legacy started all-out war with former father-in-law (Aretas)•Died in exile after falling out of political favor.•Did not execute James, the brother of John.

Acts 12: Who’s Herod?–Herod Agrippa I• That’s the guy from Acts 12!•Herodias’ brother.• Killed James, son of Zebedee–Only of the 12 disciples whose

martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament.–Therefore regarded as the first

apostle to die.•Did not cross-examine Paul in Acts 25.

Acts 12: Who’s Herod?–Herod Agrippa II• This is the guy who appears in Acts 25.• 7th and last king of the Herodian line.• Brother to Bernice, appearing at the same time.

• Whew! Got all that?

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged

to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with

approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This

happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing

him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public

trial after the Passover.

ACTS 12:1-4

Herod’s Agenda• Action: Arrested• Intent: Persecution• Executed James, brother of

John–Increased his approval rating.

• Captures Peter–Clearly wants to amplify the strategy with the show trial of the “ring leader.”

Interesting Timing• This all happened during the

Festival of Unleavened Bread.–Also known as?–What do you think might be going through Peter’s mind right about now?• John 21:18-19

After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and

ordered that they be executed.

ACTS 12:19(a)

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. He had been quarreling with the people of

Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience

with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant

of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the

king’s country for their food supply.

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his

throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he

was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

ACTS 12:19(b)-24

Herod’s Final Legacy• Executed his guards to save

face.• Distracted now by a matter

of state.–Tyre and Sidon seeks peace because of their dependence on Herod’s food supply.

• One day of pomp and circumstance.–The praise he received was not genuine, given its circumstance.

Herod’s Final Legacy• God had enough.–Angel of the Lord struck him down for failing to deflect such praise to God.• Perhaps a broader interpretation of that charge is warranted?

–Meets a miserable demise.• End result? God’s word

continued to spread and flourish!

Herodian Cliff’s Notes• Attempted to prevent

Messiah.• Killed Messiah’s herald.• Contributed to Messiah’s

execution.• Killed an apostle.• Imprisoned others.• Sought to extinguish The

Way.

Impact?• Prophecy fulfilled!• The Lamb of God sacrificed

for our sin!• Made Christianity a matter

of life or death importance for its followers!• Failed to stop or slow

Christianity!• Sent Christianity to the very

heart of modern civilization!

Bonus Track• Imprisonment episodes from

Acts 12 and 16 are covered in great (symbolic and literal) detail in Prison Break!–Available now in the archived notes section of:

www.fambuilders.com

PRISON

BREAK

Application• What have you suffered in

comparison with the faithful described in Acts 12?• What abuse of power have

you seen from today’s rulers compared to that in Acts 12?• What became of these

power abusers?• What, then, could hold us

back from being as (or more) effective for Christ?