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God Is Always In Charge
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: 23-24, NIV King Herod was against the early Christians. He even killed James and arrested Peter. But God moved by sending an angel to rescue Peter from prison. After that, King Herod continued to boast about what he had and failed to glorify God. The Bible said that an angel struck him down and was eaten by words. He had a very sad ending. The disciples went through so much fear and experienced…
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When You Find It Hard To Believe That God Answers Your Prayer
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” Acts 12:15, NIV When Peter was arrested by King Herod, the early church fervently prayed for Him. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter and set him free from prison. Peter then went to the house where the Christians gathered and to their surprise, they didn’t believe what the servant named Rhoda said. She recognized Peter’s voice and said to the disciples that he was knocking at the door. They won’t believe her that they even said to the servant that she’s out of her…
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God Will Send His Help
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Acts 12:7,NIV Peter was arrested and put into prison when he experienced this supernatural moment. Who would have thought that an angel would appear and help him? This is one of the stories in the Bible that reminds us that God can do the impossible. He rescued Peter from death. He commanded His angels to help and guide Peter on his way out. At the same time, the church also prayed for him. Imagine,…
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Peace Is Available As Long As We Are Willing To Trust And Surrender
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Acts 12: 6, NIV Peter was arrested after King Herod killed James. This was the night before Herod would bring him to trial. This means that this night could be Peter’s last night before his death. He only had hours to live. If you were in Peter’s situation, What would you feel? If you happen to realize that tomorrow is going to be your last day on earth, what would you do? Most of us would’ve probably done something apart from sleeping. Perhaps…
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Keep on Praying
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12: 5, NIV This happened after James was arrested and put to death by King Herod. When the King saw that what he did pleased the Jews, he then seized Peter. This moment wasn’t easy for the early church. Imagine one of your dear brothers died for the sake of the gospel. Perhaps they also felt scared by what happened because it simply meant that their lives were threatened. But then, if we try to imagine, the church must’ve also prayed for James to be saved and set free. They must’ve also…
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The Danger In Pleasing Imperfect Humans
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. Acts 12: 3, NIV King Herod arrested James and put him to death. When he noticed that what he did met with approval among the Jews, he then seized Peter. As we noticed, King Herod was after of people’s approval. He wanted to please them to the point of sacrificing someone’s life. Perhaps, he was thinking about the fame and the power that he might gain the moment he followed what the people wanted. According to the commentaries, this was Herod Agrippa I, the grandson…
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We Are Commanded To Testify about Jesus And Become His Witnesses
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42, NIV Peter said these words while he was in the house of Cornelius, a centurion man who lived in Caesarea. He proclaimed the gospel in front of Cornelius’ family and relatives. In this particular verse, it is important to note the words that Peter used. He said that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. In other words, sharing the…
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We Believe In A God That Does Not Show Favoritism
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34, NIV Peter realized that God did not show favoritism the moment he met Cornelius. God used this centurion man to break Peter’s mindset. Before, he met Cornelius, he treated the Gentiles as unclean and unholy. But God taught him how to respect and accept others especially those believers who came from different nations. He realized that God accepts those who fear him and does what is right regardless of their ethnicity or different backgrounds. Sometimes,…
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We Are God’s Vessel
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” Acts 10: 25-26, NIV Cornelius treated Peter with so much honor to the point that he fell at his feet in reverence. This is his expression of honoring Peter as a man of God. And Peter responded by asking Cornelius to get up. He reminded Cornelius that just like him, he was only a man. It seems like Peter humbly pointed out to him who he is. He knew that he was just a vessel of God. And the…
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God Can Change Your Perspective
Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. Acts 10:23, NIV God instructed Peter to welcome some men whom he sent. Now, these men weren’t Jews. They were Gentiles who happened to believe in God. In the past, the Jews were very strict in terms of dealing with the Gentiles. They somehow treat them like strangers and unclean. You would rarely see a Jew engaging with Gentiles. They don’t normally welcome them in their homes because they were careful not to associate themselves with their Pagan gods. Peter was so strict with his beliefs and customs, but God did something that changed his perspective. He saw…
