BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 2 - ActsSample

At this point in Acts, new reports are coming in about how more non-Jewish people are beginning to follow Jesus in the trade city of Antioch. So the disciples in Jerusalem send a man named Barnabas to check things out. When he arrives in Antioch, he finds that many people from regions all over the world have learned the way of Jesus. There are many new followers and a lot to do, so Barnabas recruits Saul to come teach with him in Antioch for a year.

Antioch is the place where Jesus’ followers are first called Christians, meaning “the Christ ones.” The church in Antioch is the first international Jesus community. The Church is no longer mainly comprised of messianic Jews from Jerusalem; it is now a multiethnic movement spreading rapidly throughout the world. Their skin tones, languages, and cultures are different, but their faith is the same, centered on the good news of the King of all the nations, the crucified and risen Jesus. But the Church’s message and their new way of life is confusing, and even threatening, to the average Roman citizen. And King Herod, a puppet king of the Roman empire, begins to mistreat and execute Christians. The more the king sees that his persecution of Christians pleases some of the Jewish leaders, the more he continues to do so, which eventually leads to Peter’s arrest. Peter’s life is on the line, but his friends fervently pray for his release. The night before Herod planned to offer Peter up to the violent crowds, an angel visits his cell, breaking his chains and leading him out of the prison.

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

What thoughts, questions, or insights come up as you read today’s selected passages?

Compare Acts 5:18-25 to Acts 12:4. Why do you think Herod ordered four squads of soldiers to guard Peter? What does this tell you about Herod and his understanding of the situation?

Take time to imagine being in the jail cell the night Peter was awakened by the angel. What do you think that would have been like? Now imagine being among the people praying for Peter’s release. What would you have done when Peter started knocking on the door?  

Notice Herod’s regard of the crowds and disregard of the one true God. Compare the way the chapter begins (12:1-4) with the way the chapter ends (12:22-23) and consider the irony. Also take note how and why the angels interacted with the characters in this chapter (12:7-8 and 12:23). What do you observe? 

Turn your reading and reflections into a prayer. Express gratitude and give God honor and credit for your life. Pray also for the persecuted Church, for their hope, perseverance, and deliverance.