Another Prison Break

 

Chapter 12

Have I mentioned to you that I think the book of Acts would make a great movie? Luke is such a talented storyteller, he paints word pictures so vivid we can see what he describes. Although some things (man eaten by worms!) we might like to unsee. Luke keeps the action moving, allowing us to stay apprised of important events taking place in several different place.

In Chapter 12, we jump back to Judea to learn what King Herod is up to. Keeping the Herods straight can be confusing – almost as confusing as keeping the Caesars straight. But to quickly summarize, Herod the Great was a client king of the Roman Empire, who reigned in Judea about 36 – 1 BCE. After his death, Rome divided his kingdom among his sons and his sister. They competed against one another to enlarge their territories. Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, ruled over a kingdom including Judea and Galilee. He ruled 41 – 44 AD and was the last of the Herod dynasty.

This Herod seemed to enjoy the favor of the Jews. He apparently surmised that ill-treatment of the Christians would improve his position. His violent persecution of James and others was followed by the arrest of Peter. Luke notes that it happened during the festival of unleavened bread – the Passover. The information helps us to understand the need to hold him until after the festival is complete when, presumably, he will be executed. But it also allows us to see it as closely tied to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

This incident provides the occasion for another prison break by divine intervention. Recall back in Chapter 5 when the apostles were mysteriously teleported out of their prison cell. Looking ahead, there will be another escape in Chapter 16. Is this significant, or does Luke just have a penchant for prison breaks? For an answer, turn to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4. Here, Jesus, newly filled with the Holy Spirit, decides to begin his public ministry in the Nazareth synagogue, reading from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The promise is being fulfilled; the church is realizing its mission. And we are seeing that no human force can stop the Spirit of God.

Peter’s escape feels like a dream to him, but when at last he knows it is real, he goes to the house of some church members. In this house, the Christians are fervently praying for Peter’s release. The scene is comical. Peter stands outside the gate, furiously knocking. The maid who goes to answer, is so overcome, she runs back in to the others to announce what she has seen. Those who are praying for Peter’s release do not seem to have much expectation that he actually will be released. Nor do they have much regard for the maid’s words – unsurprising, as a woman’s word was generally considered unreliable. While they argue inside, Peter remains at the gate knocking his knuckles raw, surely hoping to be taken inside before he is recaptured.

Indeed, Herod is unhappy to learn the next day that Peter has somehow escaped. He blames the guards and orders them to be punished by death. He seems to have had enough of Judea and departs for his more pleasant seaside home in Caesarea. But that is not all Luke wants us to know about Herod.

An unconnected anecdote brings the chapter to a close. The people of Tyre and Sidon had managed to get in the king’s bad graces. This was more than inconvenient because at the time there was a famine. People might find a thousand reasons to dislike government, but in times of crisis, like natural disaster, we know how much we need it. Tyre and Sidon were trying hard to improve their relationship with Herod by using a go-between – Blastus.

Blastus managed to arrange a meeting for them, when Herod would address the residents of Tyre and Sidon. They, undoubtedly, wanted to please him however they could. The story told by the historian Josephus is that Herod’s garment of silver caught the light of the sun and shone in a way that inspired awe. The people cried out that he was a god. Herod did not rebut them as he should have. Immediately afterward he saw an owl, widely believed to be an omen of death. He was then stricken by violent abdominal pain and died within days. Josephus does not mention worms.

“But,” Luke continues, “the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents.” Here is the point of including this strange little story about Herod Agrippa. No earthly power can stop the Spirit of God. No matter how many soldiers you command, no matter how many weapons you employ, no matter how much wealth you acquire, and no matter how much you bring these resources to bear against the church, the lowly apostles of Christ will persevere.

Earthly power is fleeting; rulers will come and go. But the word of God is forever.

Questions for Reflection:

·        In verse 4 we are told that the church fervently prayed for Peter’s release from prison. Later events might suggest that they didn’t actually expect their prayers to be answered. How do you explain this?

·        Prayer is highly significant in the story of Acts, from the very beginning when the Apostles go back to the upper room where they are “constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (1:14). What role did it play for them then? What role does prayer play in your life now?

·        Consider for a moment all the varieties of adversity the church has endured – from violent governmental persecution, to competing religions, to disappointments, to apathy, and more. In your view, what is the secret of its strength?