The Word of God Increases and Spreads (Acts 12:12-25)
A. Joy and empowerment through miracles
1) The believers shared in a miracle (12-16)
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. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (12-16)
2) Nothing can stand in the way of God's work (17-19)
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 brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 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. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. (17-19)
B. The death of King Herod
1) The fate of those who refuse to give God glory (20-23)
He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (20-23)
2) God's plan moves forward (24,25)
But the word of God continued to increase and spread. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (24,25)
Summary
We are invited to take part in God's work. Participation in God's work comes with its share of difficulties and persecution, but God gives us joy so that we can walk on without giving up. Sometimes God's joy comes in the form of miracles, but we do not desire miracles as ends in themselves, but rather as means by which God gives us strength and joy so that we can continue his work. God does not want us to live our lives pursuing our own glory. As we live our lives giving glory to the one who created us, we can live with joy and peace, knowing that God is present in every aspect and circumstance of life.
For Discussion
1) Why does God perform miracles?
2) What was King Herod's problem?