Acts 12:1-19

12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

-Acts 12:1-1912 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

-Acts 12:1-19

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A little longer read than usual, but in short, this is about the Apostle Peter breaking out of jail!  What makes this special is that it was angels who got him out.  Kind of.

The most fascinating verse to me in this lengthy story  is verse 5: “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

We oftentimes see prayer as a last resort.  If something bad happens, we try to take matters in our own hands by doing this or doing that.  After all our options are exhausted, then we pray.

For the people of God, prayer is the first resort.  The church played a super important in breaking Peter out of jail simply by praying. 

Are there things that you’re trying to change by your own strength but you haven’t even prayed about it yet?  Are you saving prayer as a last resort?  Take your issue to God now.  Let God and prayer be your first resort.

Acts 11:18-30

The Church in Antioch of Syria

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

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Evangelism and Charitable Mission Giving

In this passage, we see the early Christian Church beginning to take shape at a city in Antioch in Syria. In fact, this is where the term "Christians" will be used for the first time to describe the people in the Church. Two things these early Christians did 2,000 years ago that continue today are: 1.) evangelism (sharing the faith) and 2.) charitable mission work (helping others).

We see evangelism being carried out by a man named Barnabus. The passage says that Barnabus was a good man and that many people came to faith because of him. Evangelism continues to be an important aspect of the Church. We are expected to grow our faith by telling others about Jesus in the hope of getting them to convert to Christianity.

We also see charitable mission work among the Antioch Christians in their gathering food and sending it to the Church leaders in anticipation of a future famine. They are trying to help others to survive. This continues to be an important aspect of the Christian Church today.

While we accept that these are two important aspects of the Church then and now, they should also be important aspects of our individual lives. We together are all the Body of Christ, and each of us has a responsibility in doing the work of the Lord. We (meaning you and I) should be telling others about Jesus and doing good deeds for others on a regular basis.

When's the last time you told someone about Jesus in the hope of leading him or her to Christian faith? And when is the last time you did a charitable act of mission work to help others? We all should strive to copy the example of our early Church leaders by making these behaviors a regular part of your life.

- Brian Hall

Acts 11:1-18

11The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 10:23-48

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

-Acts 10:23-48

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With all that racial tension going on today, this passage reminds us that God wants all cultures, races, and ethnicities to come together in unity.  Cornelius was a Gentile or a non-Jew while Peter was obviously Jewish like the other Apostles.  Both are led to one another through supernatural instruction.  It’s God’s way of saying, “I want everyone to be included in my family!”

And that means us, too.  We’re included in God’s family.  And what’s amazing is that as we draw close to Jesus, we automatically draw close to the millions of other Christian brother and sisters who come from different backgrounds and heritages.

I remember many year ago worshipping at church with some of my Kenya and Zambian brothers and sisters in Christ.  It was very different.  No instruments.  Not as liturgical or organized.  Not even on time.  But I felt a faith connection with them that was strong.

I do believe that when all of us recognize our own individual connection with God and our communal relationship with Jesus as a species it helps us to overcome our racism and our prejudices.  Laws will only modify behavior.  But God changes our hearts.

Acts 10: 9-23

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three^[a] men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

²¹ Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” ²³ Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

-        Acts 10: 9-23

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Peter’s vision might sound a bit weird (because it kind of is). But understanding some of the contexts could help us understand Peter’s reaction. In the Old Testament particularly in Leviticus or Deuteronomy, it talks about different laws and rules and one of them is what kind of animals are allowed and not allowed to eat. Peter who was a religious person and followed Jewish laws also observed these set of rules and do not eat certain animals. And so, when he saw the different animals in his vision - we know that some of them were on the list of not-to-eat animals. Since Peter was a Jew who became a follower of Christ, it was hard to break into that law and change what he was used to. And so, it makes sense that Peter refuses to eat the animals because he knew that it was in scriptures to not eat certain animals. But then God said “Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean.” After this, we see that Peter seems to be really confused about what he just saw and heard in his vision and was left wondering. This is a huge change in what he has always believed in. We would probably also be the same way if we were told that what we’ve been doing our whole lives were being changed.

Another thing to note is that Cornelius and the men who he sent to look for Peter were Gentiles. A Gentile is someone who is not Jewish. And back then, Jews saw gentiles as impure and different than them. But we know in yesterday’s passage that Cornelius and all his family were devout and God-fearing and he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly (Acts 10:2). And so, we see another shift. It’s no longer that only the Jews were the chosen people, but God also welcomes the gentiles. We are all the same and He welcomes everyone from all walks of life with no discrimination.

Many times, we’ve always worshipped a certain way and get stuck with a tradition; and so we think that everything else is false or wrong. But then God shows us how much greater he is and even way bigger and greater than what we can comprehend. God can reveal to us things that we have never thought of or even imagined before. If we get stuck in our own ways, it’s almost like we are limiting God to only what we can understand. But God is much bigger than that. He also calls us to be open to Him and what He can do with our lives. Even people that we thought we would never interact with or people that we didn’t like, God can change that and unite us. We are all God’s beloved children and he welcomes absolutely everyone no matter who you are.

Acts 10:1-8

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

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Fearing God is something that isn't taught or discussed that often in churches or even in Young Life. I guess it can be hard to talk about, and maybe makes God seem less "appealing" sometimes. However if you read the bible there are countless stories of people, families, and nations fearing God for good reason. This introduction of Cornelius is one of them.

Having a fear of God is something that just kind of makes sense when you think about the characteristics of God. We believe in a powerful God who created the universe, the moon the stars and the Earth. We believe in a God who can move great mountains with ease, can split vast oceans into two and can create powerful nations from nothing. We believe in a God who created all life, but more importantly created the intricate human in His own image. If we believe in all these things, we need to believe in the kind of opposite as well. We need to believe God can destroy great nations as easily as he raises them, that He can take the stars away as easily as He created them. And most importantly that He can take the same life that He created in His own image, away. In the same respect that we awe at God's power, we need to fear it as well.

But fearing God doesn't just give Him the proper respect, but puts everything else He does into even more perspective. What does it show for the God of the universe with all the power He holds, when He decided to dwell among us mere humans in the form of Jesus? When He lived life among us, ate with us, traveled with us and wept with us? When He wrongfully died a gruesome death so that we could be in a relationship with Him? I don't know about yall, but when I think about just how great and scary God is, it makes it even crazier to think about all He's done for me. And just how unworthy we are to be recipients of love and grace from such a powerful God.

Acts 9:20-31

20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

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Saul after going through a transformative experience has no doubt in his mind that Christ is his savior as well as the Savior of the world. Unable to hold back his new revelations, he proclaimed Jesus to the Jews in a synagogue and afterwards to the Hellenists (someone who took on Greek culture while not being one) as well. After each time, they sought to kill him and Saul was forced to flee. 

In our faith we learn the importance of understanding that our faith doesn't always have to be divisive, but we also have to understand that sometimes it is. Saul originally was on the side of the Jews that fought against Christians and persecuted them but once Saul was transformed, the same people that Saul worked with sought to kill him. One of hardest pills to swallow as a Christian is that while we don't have to reject our old friends as we pursue Christ, sometimes they will reject us. If we are like Saul however, know fully that whatever is lost is well worth everything we find in Christ. 

While friends probably won't be trying to kill us for believing Jesus, they might not all be as receptive to it as you would hope. A heart change by Christ is a heart that pursues new things which means that some as we grow in faith, we give up our old ways. You might find that all the things you used to do with your friends aren't as appealing. When they want to go party, you might find yourself not wanting to anymore, when they gossip or bully others instead of joining in, you might reprimand them instead. Your true friends will be there with you regardless but unfortunately not all of them will. They will say you've changed and all of a sudden you're the one they're badmouthing.

Granted, none of this can happen. You might be blessed and never have to face this type of adversity from former friends or anyone you thought used to be on your side, but it's something that we all have to be prepared for. While we don't seek to cause strife and division, the part of world will look at the life we live in Christ and reject us. This is my warning that while it might not always be a threat towards your life, to put it simply, it's going to suck. But my encouragement is that no matter where you are in your faith, there are always better, greater and more wonderful things to come in Christ.

Spoiler alert, Saul ends up changing his name, meets incredible new friends and ends up changing the world and during all that I doubt Saul looked back at the Jews he used to persecute Christians with and miss them. No matter what ends up happening, continue to pursue God and I guarantee you'll never miss what you leave behind.