Herod Vexes the Church
W. Arnot, D. D. Acts 12:1-19 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.… 1. The scene changes. After intimating that the door was open among the Greeks, the historian shows us that it was shut among the Jews. By His apostles as well as in His own Person Christ came to His own, and His own received Him not. 2. The king who appears here was mild in his natural temper, but fond of popularity. The persecution was not of his own motion, but to please the Jews, as was the case with Pilate. 3. Keeping Judas out of view — this is the first breach in the apostolic circle. The Church had learned to walk by faith, and even the fall of an apostle will not crush them now. In the case of James, the Lord shows that He will not always interfere to protect His servants, and in the case of Peter that He will sometimes, lest the spirit should fail before Him. This first apostolic martyrdom marks a law of the kingdom, and illustrates the Master's word, "My kingdom is not of this world." Not an inch of territory will Christ maintain for Himself by the sword. 4. Observing that no Divine power was put forth, either to protect James or to avenge him, and finding that one murder procured him favour, Herod determined to perpetrate another. Peter was imprisoned, but the remainder of the king's wrath it pleased God in this instance to restrain. "Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was made," etc. — a remarkable antithesis. Man proposes, but God disposes; and the prayer of faith reaches the Disposer's hand. James was suddenly seized and taken off, but there was time to pray for Peter. God opened the door of opportunity through Herod's desire to keep all quiet till after the passover; the Church eagerly entered that door. 5. Peter meanwhile was sleeping, and his sleep brought as much glory to God as his wakefulness, although he had sung psalms till the rafters rang again. He slept in Gethsemane through weakness of the flesh: he sleeps here through the strength of his faith. How sweet to lie down every night ready, if the Lord will, to awake in heaven! (W. Arnot, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. WEB: Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.