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What does Acts 12 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Acts 12 is the last chapter of the book of Acts that places the apostles, specifically Peter, in the center of the narrative. The church is well-established in Jerusalem and deepening its base in Judea and Samaria. Already, Gentiles are coming to Christ on the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima and far north in Syrian Antioch. It is almost time for the gospel to spread farther.

Acts 12:1–5 gives us the only time an apostle's death is explicitly recorded in Scripture. Church tradition claims to know when and how the others died. For example, Peter was reportedly crucified upside-down and John survived being burned in boiling oil and died of natural causes. Biblically, however, we only know for certain about James, the brother of John and son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19–20). According to Josephus' writing, Herod Agrippa I was one of the few of Herod the Great's progeny who understood and catered to Jewish religious leadership. Here we see Herod Agrippa I arrest and behead James, and then imprison Peter.

Acts 12:6–11 records Peter's dramatic rescue. Peter is in prison in Jerusalem—probably in the Fortress Antonia—chained between two soldiers, when an angel appears and tells him to get up. The chains fall off, and the angel reminds Peter to dress. He does so and follows the angel past several guards and into the city. The angel disappears and Peter finally realizes he's not dreaming.

In Acts 12:12–19, Peter rushes to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark and possible owner of the upper room. Several Jesus-followers, apparently not apostles, are there praying for Peter's release when they hear a knock. A servant girl named Rhoda answers but is so flummoxed she leaves him outside as she runs to tell the other Jesus-followers. After arguing as to whether it is really Peter, they let him in, and he explains what has happened. Peter tells them to relay the story to James, the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church, and the other church leaders, before going into hiding. Peter will appear only once more in the book of Acts, in chapter 15 where a council of leaders determine if Gentile Jesus-followers should be required to follow the Jewish law.

Acts 12:20–25 describes the death of Herod Agrippa I. Grandson of Herod the Great, he was appreciated by the Jewish leadership in part because he convinced his friend, Emperor Caligula, not to install a statue of himself in the temple. He also read the Law to the Jews, endearing himself to the Pharisees. Ancient historians such as Josephus indicate that it was during a disagreement with Tyre and Sidon, on the second day of games Agrippa is hosting for Caesar in Caesarea Maritima, when he enters the arena and gives a speech wearing a robe made with silver thread. The sun catches the silver making him glow, and the people cry out, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" (Acts 12:22). While it seems at another time Herod Agrippa I might have had the humility to deny their praises, this day he accepts them. An angel strikes him down. According to ancient historian Josephus, Agrippa's death involved five days of excruciating pain from an undiagnosed ailment that involves internal worms. In contrast, the church is growing. Barnabas and Saul deliver the support the church in Syrian Antioch collected for the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 11:27–30), update the church leaders, and return to Syrian Antioch.

In Acts 12, the focus of the book transitions from the apostles to Paul. The chapter begins with the first death of an apostle and ends with the death of a Roman territorial king. We also see God's miraculous rescue of Peter. In chapters 13 and 14, Paul and Barnabas embark on their first missionary trip—specifically to the island of Cyprus and the central region of modern-day Asia Minor. In Acts 15, they will return to Jerusalem for guidance from the church leaders about the requirements for Gentile Jesus-followers. Acts 16—20 cover the second and third trips, and chapters 21—28 Paul's arrest, imprisonment in Caesarea Maritima, and sea voyage to Rome. Despite James' death and Peter's arrest, the church is spreading.

Acts 12:1–5 is the only Scripture which directly records the death of an apostle. Herod Agrippa I, who has commended himself to the Jewish leaders by protecting their religion, endears himself further by arresting and beheading James, the brother of John. The Sanhedrin is so pleased, Agrippa arrests Peter, as well. His plan is to kill Peter after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but while Peter is chained and guarded by four squads of soldiers, the church is praying.

Acts 12:6–11 describes Peter's angelic rescue from a Roman prison. Herod Agrippa I arrested and killed the apostle James, brother of John. When he realized how much local religious leaders approved, he arrested Peter with plans to kill him after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The church has been praying, however, and Peter's ministry is not over. God answers their prayer by sending an angel to rescue him from prison. Peter will stop by and update members of the church and then go into hiding. We won't see him again until the meeting of church leaders in Acts 15.

Acts 12:12–19 records Peter quickly telling the story of his escape from a Roman prison before fleeing. Herod Agrippa I had arrested and beheaded James and found the Sanhedrin greatly impressed. He arrested Peter, as well, and planned to execute him after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 12:1–5), but an angel arrived first and led Peter out of prison (Acts 12:6–11). Once Peter realized he wasn't dreaming he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12–19). Peter will reappear briefly in Acts 15:6–11, but this is the last significant mention of any of the apostles in the book of Acts.

Acts 12:20–23 describes some of the details of the death of Herod Agrippa I. He was the first true king since his grandfather, Herod the Great, and ruled over nearly as much territory. He had an abnormally good relationship with the Jewish leadership and was one of the few Roman rulers of the area to persecute the church. But his favor with the Jews evidently contributed to his pride. He accepted the glory due only to God and died while his bowels were eaten by worms. Josephus, an ancient historian, provides some details Scripture does not.

Acts 12:24–25 marks the official transition from the story of Peter and the church in Jerusalem to the story of Paul, formerly Saul, and his missionary journeys. We will see Peter only once more—in a meeting requested by Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:7–11). The rest of the book of Acts is dedicated to Paul's first three missionary journeys (Acts 13—14; 15:36—20:38), his arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:1—23:22) and imprisonment in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 23:23—26:32), and his journey to Rome to have his case tried before Caesar (Acts 27—28). Because of Paul, Jesus' story will spread all over the northern Mediterranean.

Chapter Summary:

Acts 12 starts with the first death of an apostle and ends with the death of a king. Herod Agrippa I beheads James and imprisons Peter. An angel rescues Peter and he quickly lets the church in Jerusalem know before he goes into hiding. Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great and friend to the Pharisees, accepts glory due only to God and dies, likely a few days later, of internal worms. Meanwhile, the church continues to grow, and Barnabas and Saul return to Syrian Antioch. The scene is set for Paul's extensive ministry to the Gentiles.

Chapter Context:

When Acts 12 opens, at least some of the apostles are in Jerusalem, and Barnabas and Saul are in Syrian Antioch, collecting support so the church in Jerusalem can survive the coming famine (Acts 11:27–30). The church is established in Jerusalem and growing in the regions on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. When the chapter closes, Barnabas and Saul are poised for their missionary trip in modern-day Asia Minor. Saul will take on the Greek version of his name, Paul, and the story of Jesus will spread to Rome and beyond.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.

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