The persecution in Jerusalem that scattered the church sent disciples off to many new places. In Acts 11:19-20 they were “proclaiming the message” in Antioch, first only to the Jews, and then some began to speak to others. And people believed, just has had happened as Peter spoke to Cornelius and his whole house. Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem and rejoiced and encouraged them and went to find Saul. Barnabas and Saul taught the people for a year and then the Holy Spirit spoke through prophets sending Barnabas and Saul on a mission. The church was not only growing in Jerusalem, but in Antioch and other places. This growth was not only in numbers, it was also a growth in spiritual gifts.
Proclaiming the Good News
Acts 11:19–24
What was intended to stop the spread of the gospel, the persecution in Acts 11:19, sent disciples to “Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch”. But they were “proclaiming the message to no one except the Jews”. Then in Acts 11:20-21 it says that “some of them … began to speak to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord”.
Then, the church in Jerusalem heard, in Acts 11:22 “and they sent Barnabas” who in Acts 11:23-24 “saw the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged them … and a large number were added to the Lord”.
They Met Together And Taught
Acts 11:25–30
The church at Antioch was growing and Barnabas vs 25 went to get Paul and in Acts 11:26 “they met together … and taught a large number of people”. This is the first time since the early days in Jerusalem (see Acts 2:42, 46-47) where we see extended teaching. There are principle for living in God’s word and Paul taught them from the Old Testament scriptures with the revelation he had received by Jesus and the Holy Spirit as this new testament was yet to be written.
Acts 11:27 says “prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch” but we have not read about prophets until now. They, the church, even the apostles, were just experiencing how God would work through his disciples and would eventually write Ephesians 4:7-16. But here, now, there was a word from God, in Acts 11:27-30 “a great famine” which wasn’t taken as just information for them, they took action on what God was saying through the prophet and “each one of them determined to send financial aid”.
See also 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now you are the body of Christ, and members ⌊of it individually⌋j, 28 and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.
Prayer Was Fervently Being Made to God
Acts 12:1–5
In Acts 12:1 “Herod the king—grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. He at this time ruled over all his father’s dominions … For thirty years before this there was no king at Jerusalem … nor was there ever afterwards, save during the three last years of Herod’s life”.1
And this fulfill the words of Jesus to James “You will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with” (See on Mark 10:38–40.) 2
And in Acts 12:3 we see Herod, the politician, “he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also”. But something was happening in the church in Acts 12:5 “but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him”.
Gird Yourself and Put On Your Sandals
Acts 12:6–11
Peter’s life is in danger. It doesn’t say how many days, it just says in Acts 12:6 “when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night” so it may have been many night, but it was at least a few. And “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison”. There was no way Peter was getting away, but, in Acts 12:7-10 “an angel of the Lord stood near him … and the chains fell off”. The guards next to him didn’t wake up. It is no wonder that Peter thought this was a vision in vs 9. They passed the first guards, then the second, then the main gate opened before them, and the angel departed in vs 10. Then Peter said to himself, in Acts 12:11
“Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all ⌊that the Jewish people expected⌋!”
Many People Were Gathered Together and Were Praying
Acts 12:12–19
In Acts 12:12, when Peter realized he was free, he thought to go to “the house of Mary … where many people were gathered together and were praying”. I am sure the church was getting daily reports on Peter and they were in Acts 12:5 praying “fervently”. But when Peter got to the door, they couldn’t believe it. Look at Acts 12:16 “Peter was continuing to knock, and when they* opened the door* they saw him and were astonished”. Isn’t that just like us, we are praying for something and when it comes, we can’t believe it! These were the people of God with great faith and power. So, in Acts 12:17 “But motioning to them with his* hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and to the brothers,” and he departed and* went to another place”. Peter knew that Herod would be looking for him so stayed out of sight.
Of course, Herod couldn’t believe that this was anything but failure or collusion on the part of the guards, and in Acts 12:18-19 when Herod couldn’t find Peter so killed the guards and left town.
We may now better understand the admonition in Colossians 4:2-5 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also ⌊I am a prisoner⌋a, 4 so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak. 5 Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time.
And 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”.
Because we do have an adversary and it is good for us to “Pray to prevent evil” and “Pray to escape evil”.
But the Word of God Kept on Increasing and Multiplying
Ac 12:20–25
Herod, in all his royal robes, in front of all the people, is struck down in Acts 12:20-23
While They Were Serving The Lord and Fasting
Acts 13:1–3
The Holy Spirit is active in the church and in Acts 13:2 “the Holy Spirit said”. The work isn’t spelled out here, but we know Paul was called to the gentiles. So, in Acts 12:3 they fasted, prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them away. The most important thing to note here is they immediately acted on what the Holy Spirit said, and sent them. And there is one other point that we often miss, they laid hands on them, and “In the Gospels, Jesus lays hands on various individuals as a sign of blessing”.3
There is a difference between:
- Just doing what God called you to do on your own.
- Being released by a ministry gift (apostle, prophet, evangelist, …) to do God’s will.
- And what we just read in Acts 12:3 to be blessed to fulfill God’s plan and purpose.
The Hand of the Lord Is Against You
Acts 13:4–12
In all their journey things seem to progress well, that is until they get to Paphos. In Acts 13:6-11 they meet “Elymas the magician” who “opposed them”. There are those that are spiritual, that have a false theology, that have what seems to be great intelligence or power to influence others. These are not of God. They may be under the influence of fallen angels or even Satan himself who may appear as an angel of light.
In Acts 13:7 “Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man” had Elymas close at his side. Some would say Elymas had his ear because when Barnabas and Saul began to speak about God, Elymas jumped in the middle, Acts 13:8. Listen to Saul’s charge against Elymas in Acts 13:10 “full of deceit”, “unscrupulous”, “son of the devil”, “enemy of righteousness”, “making crooked the straight paths of the Lord”. Then in Acts 13:11 Saul says “the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun ⌊for a while⌋.a And immediately mist and darkness fell over him, and he was going around looking for people* to lead him* by the hand”.
There is no good white magic, or black and we should not tolerate it. But, there are several of the religions we call cults that began because someone had a visitation from and angelic being. The truth of the gospel is simple, Christ, crucified, raised from the dead, seated in heaven, believe! Yet people still fall prey, even though the gospel is simple and even though we are warned in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (LEB) For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
When you hear something and react, for example: I don’t feel like that, or That doesn’t seem right, take it to the Lord and ask him to show you the truth.
Some people say, but my experience is … and what they say is contrary to the God’s word. Ask yourself, is it Love? Is it peace? Is it joy? Is it a sound mind? What you are asking is does it pass the Holy Spirit test? If not, it isn’t for you as a Christian.
Study Verses
- Acts 11:25–30
- Acts 12:12–19
- Acts 13:1–3
Today’s Reading
- Acts 11:19-30
- Acts 12:1-25
- Acts 13:1-12
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 188). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 188). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 3. Caulley, T. S. (2016). Ordination. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.