Book of Acts – Bible Study Notes Pastor Steve …

1 book of acts Bible Study Notes Pastor Steve Bolewine Pastor Steve acts Bible Study - Lesson 12: Peter s Arrest & Deliverance May 20, 2014 page 1 acts :1-25 PETER S ARREST AND DELIVERANCE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT Tonight we are going to look at an interesting story in the book of acts . Remember from Chapter 8 that when the church began to be severely persecuted that most of the Christians fled Jerusalem for fear of their lives. Yet we were told that the Apostles remained behind. The persecution is once again being turned up by the enemy, and this time it is being directed specifically at the Apostles. We are going to see that one of them, James the brother of John is put to death, while another Apostle, Peter is miraculously saved.

2 HOW IT APPLIES TO ME / WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Personal application from this Study is the reminder that we live in a fallen world. And although we are saved and the promise of eternal life is something that cannot be taken away; the reality that we will experience persecution because of our relationship with God is also something that we will not be able to completely avoid in this life on earth. There were many things that Jesus promised us in scripture that we as Christians seek to cling to and take ownership of in regards to our relationship with Him. The joy and the peace that He has given to those of us who have been grafted into the family; as children who have been adopted into the family of God we have been made heirs with Jesus.

3 Romans :16-18 (New Living Translation) 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. But there is also the promise of persecution and trials. Jesus said: John :18-20 (New Living Translation) 18 If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

4 20 Do you remember what I told you? A slave is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you. book of acts Bible Study Notes Pastor Steve Bolewine Pastor Steve acts Bible Study - Lesson 12: Peter s Arrest & Deliverance May 20, 2014 page 2 Although persecution is inevitable, as Christians it is not our focal point, because as painful as it may be, it is not going to last. 2nd Corinthians :17-18 (New Living Translation) 17 For our present troubles are small and won t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.

5 For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. So let s jump into our Study : acts :1-4 THE DEATH OF JAMES 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Chapter 12 is a record of King Herod s persecution of the early church, primarily in Jerusalem.

6 There are allot of Herod s mentioned in the Bible and it can be a little confusing sometimes to sort out who is who. This is Herod Agrippa the 1st. He was grandson of Herod the Great the one who murdered all the children when Jesus was born. Herod Agrippa s son is the King Agrippa the Apostle Paul is going to stand before in acts Herod Agrippa was the Roman official, the ruler of the part of the Roman Empire that extended throughout Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. It was a pretty extensive territory. His Success was primarily due to his ability to please both the Romans and the Jews, he was an expert at compromise, he pleased Caesar, while at the same time having a Jewish heritage and observing the Jewish Laws, this made him a favorite with the religious Jewish leadership.

7 There were things different Roman officials tried to do in terms of introducing idolatry into Jerusalem, during his reign that he fended off which made him popular with the religious Jews. book of acts Bible Study Notes Pastor Steve Bolewine Pastor Steve acts Bible Study - Lesson 12: Peter s Arrest & Deliverance May 20, 2014 page 3 He would practice all of the Jewish feasts and show his Jewish side, and then when we wanted to let his hair down and party like a Roman he would go down to Caesarea and live like a heathen. He had it down and knew how to work the system. One of the things he did to gain favor with the Jews was harass the young Christian church.

8 The persecution became more and more intense until he ultimately had James the brother of John murdered. He gained such approval from the Jews that he decided to go after Peter next. This is a new development in the history of the church. James is the first of the twelve who followed Jesus to be martyred. Up to acts 12, the church has been on a hot streak, experiencing one exciting conversion after another. First there was Saul of Tarsus who was converted, then the Gentile centurion Cornelius, then the mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles in Antioch. But in acts 12, this ugly opposition towards the church inspired by Satan again raises its head. James is certainly not the first Christian to die in faithfulness to Jesus.

9 Remember Stephen was martyred before this ( acts 7:58-60), and certainly others were also. But the death of James shattered the illusion that somehow, the twelve enjoyed a unique Divine protection. James the brother of John, in particular, might have thought to have been protected. He was one of the special intimates of Jesus, often mentioned with his brother John and with Peter. But Jesus promised no special protection for even His closest followers; He warned them to be ready for persecution Matthew :16-18 (New Living Translation) 16 Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.

10 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. The death of James was also a fulfillment of prophecy, in Mark verse 39 Jesus specifically told James that he was going to be killed because of his faith in God and his association with Jesus. book of acts Bible Study Notes Pastor Steve Bolewine Pastor Steve acts Bible Study - Lesson 12: Peter s Arrest & Deliverance May 20, 2014 page 4 I find it interesting also; there was no attempt to "replace" James, as there was to replace Judas ( acts 1). This was because James died as a faithful martyr, but Judas revealed his apostasy in betraying Jesus.