Chapter 12 Discussion

1
Chapter 12 Discussion

• Chapter 12 Verses 1-23
• Don't confuse the Herods.
• The Herod here is Herod Agrippa I, the grandson
  of Herod the Great who was king when Jesus was
  born. But this Herod Agrippa I was Herod Antipas
  nephew.
• Herod Antipas was the Herod we find in the
  gospel, being the son of Herod the Great. He had
  been given rule over much of the provinces which
  previously were ruled separately.
• His son is Herod Agrippa II, we find later in
  Acts in chapter 25. 

2
Chapter 12 Discussion

• Chapter 12 Verses 1-23
• Don't confuse the James.
• This is the apostle James, brother of John.
  Together Jesus called them the sons of thunder
  probably because they wanted to call down fire
  from heaven to destroy unbelieving towns. (Luke
  954)
• But there is another James. The Jerusalem church
  was headed by Peter, James and John. That James
  is the Lord's brother who wrote the book of James
  in the New Testament.

3
Chapter 12 Discussion

• Chapter 12 Verses 1-23
• In vs 4 it is evident the New Testament church of
  God continued to keep the Passover yearly. Some
  translations grossly mistranslate the Greek word
  pascha as "Easter." It always means "Passover.
• Verses 6-11 How do we feel and act in a time of
  extremis as Peter was having?
• A peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the
  consolations of the Holy Spirit, can keep men
  calm in the full prospect of death even those
  very persons who have been most distracted with
  terrors on that account. God's time to help, is
  when things are brought to the last extremity.
  Peter was assured that the Lord would cause this
  trial to end in the way that should be most for
  his glory.

4
Chapter 12 Discussion

• Chapter 12 Verses 1-23
• vs 15 "it is his angel. What does that mean?
• There were some at the time who believed the each
  had a guardian angel, although the scripture
  doesn't support the idea.
• vs 18,19 Was Peters escape an act of civil
  disobedience?
• Although acting under a higher authority, Peter's
  escaped may be viewed to a degree as an act of
  civil disobedience. David's fleeing from King
  Saul can also be viewed in a similar light.
• As even Jesus also at times eluded his captors.
• But following Jesus means that there is a time to
  elude persecution, as Paul in his escape from
  Damascus, but also there is  a time to face it.

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Chapter 12 Discussion

• What happened to Peters jailors?
• Peter's escape led to the death of his jailors.
  Unfortunately the church probably had neglected
  to pray for them. It was common for jailors to be
  put to death if their prisoners escaped.
• In Acts 1626,27, upon just assuming that Paul
  and Silas escaped under his watch, their jailor
  was even going to commit suicide with a sword.
  But Paul quickly stopped him, being perhaps more
  concerned for his jailor than Peter had been. But
  the suicide attempt indicates that the death he
  would have faced otherwise must have been
  torturous.
• It is said that if a Roman guard falls asleep on
  watch, they are burned in their own clothes.
  (That'll keep them awake!)

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Chapter 12 Discussion

• vs 20-23 What was Herod motivated by?
• As we saw in verse 3 this Herod was motivated  by
  popularity, pleasing the crowds. He loved the
  praise of men. Jesus said, "How can you believe
  if you accept praise from one another, yet make
  no effort to obtain the praise that comes from
  the only God?" John 544. Herod being a Jew and
  holding a position of authority also contributed
  to a greater judgement against him. For the more
  we have, the more we will be held responsible
  for. 
• What lesson is there for us here? Give specific
  examples in what is happening around usgt
• Here's a story for everyone who accepts praise
  while not deferring to God. (niv) It is best if
  Christians not care what others think of them.
  Don't seek for popularity. For such concerns
  hinder saving faith from developing and end up
  creating snares which can lead to death. The
  problem ministries can face is that a sincere and
  healthy desire to influence and edify can become
  a corrupt desire for popularity, which is the
  downfall of many institutions of Christianity,
  replacing the Bible with institutional dogma.

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Chapter 12 Discussion

• vs 24 In contrast to Herod's words leading to his
  death, the Word of God increased and prospered.
  It's always proven best to invest in the Word of
  God. For the outcome in inevitably good.
• In vs 25  Who is John?
• Colossians 410 indicates that Mark was the
  cousin of Barnabas. This was the Mark who wrote
  the gospel of Mark.
• He had close ties to the Apostle Peter. He would
  be involved with the ministry of Paul and
  Barnabas to the end - as in his last letter in
  2Timothy Paul calls for Mark to help him out once
  again. Thus two gospel writers - Luke and Mark -
  both were closely involved with Paul's ministry
  and affirmed his work. This would dissuade
  liberal theologians and dispensationalists who
  attempt to introduce the idea of their being
  contradiction between the gospels and Paul's
  letters.

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Chapter 12 Addendum

• Who were the 12 Apostles?
• The original twelve disciples / apostles are
  listed in Matthew 102-4,
• Simon (who is called Peter) - A fisherman from
  the Sea of Galilee. Born at Betsaida, in Galilee,
  to a fisherman by the name of Jona. Considered to
  be the most impulsive of the group, always ready
  to speak up, and swing a sword on occasion (e.g.
  the cutting off of a man's ear at the time of
  Jesus' arrest). is believed that he ministered in
  Babylon to the Jewish colonists there and it is,
  also, believed to be his location when he wrote
  his first epistle (1 Peter). Apostle Peter was
  crucified, upside-down on an x-shaped cross, in
  Rome, in fulfillment of Jesus prophecy (John
  2118).
• and his brother Andrew - He was active in
  bringing people to Jesus, including his brother
  Peter. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross
  in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven
  soldiers, Andrew's body was tied to the cross
  with cords to prolong his agony. His followers
  reported that, when he was led toward the cross,
  Andrew saluted it in these words "I have long
  desired and expected this happy hour. The cross
  has been consecrated by the body of Christ
  hanging on it." He continued to preach to his
  tormentors for two days until he died. 
• James son of Zebedee - James (the English version
  of the Hebrew name Jacob) was the son of Zebedee
  and Salome, and an older brother of John (the
  apostle who wrote the Book of Revelation). He was
  one of the earliest disciples chosen by Jesus
  Christ, .James was a Fisherman, along with his
  brother John, in The Sea Of Galilee as such, he
  most likely lived in Capernaum. James is
  considered to have been in the "inner circle" of
  apostles, having been present each time, with
  only John and Peter, at The Transfiguration
  (Matthew 171), the raising of Jairus's daughter
  (Mark 537-43), and in the garden of Gethsemane
  The Fateful Night (Mark 1433).

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Chapter 12 Addendum

• and his brother John - John and his brother James
  were the third and fourth fishermen of the Sea
  Of Galilee that Jesus had called to service that
  day (brothers Andrew and Peter were the first
  two). John and James had been fishing with their
  father Zebedee and left immediately to follow
  Jesus. Zebedee was apparently relatively wealthy,
  and had other hired men there, so John didn't
  leave his father all alone (Mark 119-20). They
  had probably heard the preaching of John The
  Baptist, who had just been imprisoned (Mark
  114), and were aware that a Savior was coming,
  although they may not have realized that they
  themselves would be called to service. John faced
  martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of
  boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome.
  However, he was miraculously delivered from
  death. John was then sentenced to the mines on
  the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his
  prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The
  Apostle John was later freed and returned to what
  is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man,
  the only apostle to die peacefully. 
• Philip - From Bethsaida, as were Andrew and
  Peter. Eventually martyred, possibly at
  Hierapolis
• Bartholomew - also know as Nathanael, was a
  missionary to Asia. He was one of the disciples
  to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias
  after His resurrection. He was also a witness of
  the Ascension. He witnessed in present-day Turkey
  and was martyred for his preaching in Armenia,
  when he was flayed to death by a whip. 

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Chapter 12 Addendum

• Thomas - He was also called Didymus which is the
  Greek version of his name. Not easily convinced,
  he has the nickname "Doubting Thomas" because he
  wanted to actually see and touch Jesus after His
  Resurrection. Certainly a good witness for us
  today, because he wanted indisputable proof of
  what he was expected to report about, and he got
  it. The Apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear
  in India during one of his missionary trips to
  establish the church there.
• Matthew the tax collector at Capernaum - Matthew
  suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia. He was killed
  with a halberd (a pike fitted with an ax head) in
  Nadabah.
• James son of Alphaeus - Called James the less to
  distinguish him from the other James. was a
  brother of the apostle Matthew and the son of
  Mary. Which Mary is not altogether certain though
  she seems to be the wife of one Cleopas.
• Thaddaeus also know as "Judas, son of James"
  (Luke 616) and Lebbaeus (Matthew 103). Also
  known as "Judas the brother of James" while John
  probably referring to the same person, speaks of
  "Judas, not Iscariot." He was crucified at
  Edessa.
• Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

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Chapter 12 Addendum

• Simon the Zealot was also known as Simon the
  Canaanite (Mark 318). The Zealots were a
  nationalistic sect with very strong political
  views. He was believed to have preached the
  Gospel throughout North Africa, from Egypt to
  Mauritania, and even into Britain. There is a
  church tradition which says that he was crucified
  by the Romans in Caistor, Lincolnshire, Britain
• Matthias (see Acts 120-26). Replaced Judas
  Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, Some Bible teachers
  view Matthias as an "invalid" member of the 12
  apostles, and instead believe that the Apostle
  Paul was God's choice to replace Judas Iscariot
  as the twelfth apostle. Matthias, the apostle
  chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was
  stoned and then beheaded. He along with the
  apostles Jude (Thaddaeus), Bartholomew, Simon the
  Zealot and Andrew are credited by Armenian
  tradition as the apostles who evangelized
  Armenia.
• The Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem where he saw
  Peter, James and John. Later, he went forth with
  Barnabus to preach (sent forth from the church in
  Antioch.) At one point , the apostle Paul was a
  prisoner in Rome, and after being released, as
  part of his further missionary journeys, it is
  believed that he visited Gaul and Spain. It is
  also believed that, when he returned to Rome, he
  was taken prisoner and  imprisoned for nine
  months with the apostle Peter. was tortured and
  then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in
  A.D. 67.
• James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an
  apostle), the leader of the church in Jerusalem,
  was thrown over a hundred feet down from the
  southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused
  to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered
  that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James
  to death with a club. This was the same pinnacle
  where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.