Peter's Escape

Introduction

A. I suppose that if there were one question that we would like answered it is the question “why?” Specifically we want that question answered whenever we don’t understand something. Why is this happening? Why are things the way they are? Why did I lose out on the job promotion? Why did my spouse die well before his time? And these questions are quickly followed by the what question. What am I supposed to learn from this experience?

B. I’ve had my “why” moments and I’m sure you have to. About a year ago my uncle remarried. My aunt died from lung cancer at an early age. Visiting with him, he said that he didn’t want to be where he is through the process that he experienced but God is good because he is married again. His wife has buried two husbands before my uncle. Both of them would tell you that the “why” question has been a part of their lives.

C. We are going to study a text today that is challenging on a couple of levels. As we study today I ask that we keep one thing in mind, faith does not keep us from asking “why” but faith resolves to trust the One who promises to never leave us alone. Let’s sing of that faith.

D. Songs such as #613 Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand & #463 I Know Who Holds Tomorrow come to mind.

Prison Escape

A. Acts 12 takes place about 10-12 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. This Herod came to throne around 41 A.D. and he quickly made himself favored among the people by persecuting Christians. Inside Jerusalem those who follow Judaism and those who follow Jesus are clearly defined. Herod kills James, brother of John, son of Zebedee, and then takes a political poll to see if his action is popular. Overwhelmingly, the Jewish sect agrees with his actions. Amazing how the majority can make us think that something is right. So Herod determines to continue this highly popular action by having Peter arrested. His arrest occurs at the same time as Jesus’ arrest did 10-12 years before, Passover.

B. Determined not to let his most famous prisoner escape, 16 guards are given the responsibility of keeping Peter in prison. Each squad would have been on a three hour shift. No sleeping for the guards. After several days of imprisonment, on the night before Peter is to be tried God sets Peter free. An angel of God slaps Peter on the side. Peter thinks it is a dream. But here is one of those little details overlooked. The soldiers are awake. Two chained on either side of him and two standing as sentries outside his prison door. All awake and all paralyzed or unaware of what is happening.

C. Even the barricaded door is of no concern. The angel takes Peter one block away from the prison and leaves him. Peter comes fully to his senses and recognizes that God has been at work. Arriving at John Mark’s mother’s house, the text gives us some comic relief. Rhoda, a servant girl, hears Peter knocking and is so overwhelmed that he is standing at the door that she doesn’t open the door but runs to tell the praying disciples what is happening. Peter is ushered in and he tells the group what has happened. At the end of verse 17 we are told that someone is to tell James, the brother of Jesus, about his escape. By this time James is one of the elders of the church in Jerusalem. And Peter goes into hiding. He will reappear in Acts 15 but we are not told where he goes but he is not found in subsequent days.

Challenges

A. I had one question as I studied this text — Why did Luke include this story? What was there about this story that was so important and significant that God wanted Luke to include it? Certainly the way God delivered Peter is great drama and demonstrates God’s power. But looking at the story from that perspective alone created a spiritual conflict for me. Why not James? Why was James allowed to die and Peter allowed to escape? And then I am further conflicted by the praying disciples’ response to Rhoda? They have been praying for Peter’s release and when Rhoda tells them he is outside, they say it must be something else besides Peter. Then there is this insertion of Herod’s death in verses 20-23. And what has that got to do with anything? Straightforward stories. For me challenging reflections.

B. Why James? Wrong question. Jesus told James he would suffer and drink his cup. This whole text is about faith. Faithful people praying but caught off guard by God’s amazing answer to their prayers. They didn’t see that coming. None of us would have either. But the story reveals again that God has a way of dealing with life that far exceeds our thinking and expectations. The story about Herod. The populist Herod is shown for who he really is. He lives by the populist vote. He wants to win. He wants people to see his power. He even feeds the people of Tyre and Sidon. He is ‘god’ in his own mind and the people hold him up as a god. And THE GOD gets the final word. He holds the power of life and death for so many but God holds his life in His hands.

C. 10 days ago, I helped bury my 100 year old grandfather. My dad’s dad. We celebrated well. I knew and paid attention to him for over 40 years. Pretty special. Here is what I saw and learned. Life isn’t fair. Life doesn’t turn out the way you always want it to. Move forward anyway. Keep trusting God. And it dawned on me that maybe this is the point of the stories.

D. Look at the demonstration of faith in this chapter. Peter in prison with two guards on either side and he is sound asleep. Sounds like Jesus in the boat. Believers praying for God to act. And look at how God deals with the arrogance of Herod — death. We are left with this contrast. Peter, a man of faith in God and Herod, a man of in himself. Which type of person do you want to be?

E. Go back to the beginning of persecution in Acts. From the beginning there was no expectation that following God would result in ideal outcomes. Instead there was praying for strength and courage. Faith doesn’t mean the absence of challenges. Faith doesn’t mean that life will be fair. Faith doesn’t mean the absence of emotions. Faith means trusting God to do what needs to be done in his time. The promise of God is not ideal life now but it is the promise of eternal life with him one day. The real challenge for us to be people of faith.

1.  Trusting God when there is a why.

2.  Trusting God when we don't understand the lesson to be learned.

3.  Trusting God when there is no rhyme nor reason.

4.  Trusting God when anger, bitterness, doubt, and uncertainty are your constant companions.

F. No one can answer all the questions that we have but we have to decide what kind of person we want to be — a person who trusts God or a person who trusts self. Invitation.

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