Saul of Tarsus was yet breathing out his threats and slaughter when the Lord was pursuing His onward gracious work among the Samaritans and strangers. All else is vain, and apt to accredit. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. It was the Lord that had brought Philip, and it was His Spirit that bad taken him away; but it was He too who had given him and left him Jesus for ever. Saul of Tarsus prayed after his conversion (Acts 9:11), 7. The people of Tyre and Sidon, anxious to ensure a constant food supply from Herods territory, had tried to win his favour with a show of extravagant flattery. A man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the queen of the Ethiopians, was returning after having gone up to Jerusalem to worship. Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper constituted the visible symbol of their profession, and the pledge of their union with Christ and with each other; but the governing function in the assembly was the ministry of the Word, whether it assumed the extraordinary forms of 'tongues' or a 'revelation,' or 'prophecy,' or 'the interpretation of tongues,' or consisted of the stated instruction of regular pastors and teachers. The language of the inspired writers of the New Testament is the expression of that Christian experience, or conscious participation in the blessings vouchsafed through Christ, which the Holy Ghost had shed abroad in their hearts: their idea therefore of a saint, or a believer, being derived from their own spiritual consciousness, must have been the highest of which the words will admit. Mi sem egyszerbb, meghvunk minden bartot s bulizunk egy jt. But there is not yet the revealed truth of the body, though involved in the word of the Lord to Saul of Tarsus when he said, "Why persecutest thou me?" In this exciting drama of Acts chapter 12 you can see the reality of this statement. Acts 12:24-25 take us back to Acts 11:27-30. There are, of course, imperfect expressions, inasmuch as the truth itself is but partially apprehended; but one is glad to see views so decidedly in advance of ordinary evangelicalism, with equal decision against more churchism. 12. It is not only in cases of our judgment (for there is nothing that so often judges a man as his own judgment of another); but also where the desire goes out after that which we have not got. 378.) Settle it invariably that God is wiser than we. We must recollect that in the Apostolic Church an effective discipline the very idea of which seems to be lost amongst us existed. This brought the question to a simple issue; but here again, let it be noticed that the gift of the Holy Ghost belongs to those that believe. The time for the call of the Gentiles strictly was not yet come, though the way is being prepared. He is a nephew to the Herod who had John the Baptist slain. It may be interesting to many readers to read as follows from Mr. Edward A. Litton's work on "The Church of Christ in its Idea, Attributes, and Ministry; with a particular reference to the Controversy between Romanists and Protestants." The believers prayed for guidance in making decisions (Acts 1:1526), 2. He seems to have lost sight of the words of the Lord Jesus that he was told by Jesus risen from the dead to preach the gospel to every creature. And so it was. Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our personsbut they are helpless against our prayers. (J. Sidlow Baxter). It is a fallacy then to suppose that Cornelius had no better than merely natural religion. And he put Peter in prison intending to bring him forth for trial and execution, but God intervened and miraculously delivered Peter. Peter prayed before he raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:3643), 8. What I am suggesting is that Acts 12 illustrates not profound unbelief in prayer, but the churchs early experience of a truth later enunciated by Paul: God is able to Paul had it not more suddenly than with a heavenly splendour which was peculiar to himself; and thus there was a vast work soon wrought. This did not at all flow from his ordination. And so he went out, and followed him; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision ( Acts 12:8-9 ). It is said according to the Gospel of the Hebrews, in one of the Apocrypha books, they have James saying after the death of Jesus and before His resurrection that he said, "I will not believe unless I can see Him myself." "And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." WebIn Acts 12, we learn from this prayer group how to pray and how not to pray. But they lived very close to the spiritual world, to the spirit world. The word of God increased and was multiplied. The greatest precautions had been taken to see that Peter did not escape. Whether this was the ease among the Jews scripture does not say; but that there were persons who had this responsible place among them, as among the Gentile churches afterwards, we see clearly. . At Joppa too was wrought a still more striking miracle of the Lord in Tabitha's case, already dead, than in that of Eneas, who had been paralysed for years. Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural. So Paul and Barnabas had come back to Jerusalem with this collection that was taken from the church in Antioch. To vex - To injure, to do evil to - kakosai. Prayers To Get A Permanent Job 15. Therefore, the more godly Cornelius was, the less would he dare to put forth his hand for the blessing before the Lord told him to stretch it out. And he actually murdered several of his sons. "In the opening chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, the Christian dispensation is seen in actual operation; for that with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost that dispensation properly commences will probably be admitted by all parties. Acts 9:1-43. Wherefore, we must think with ourselves that he was tied by one that had the rule over him, that he might not more vehemently oppress the Church. In the New Testament he is called Philip and is mentioned in Luke 3:1. WebPrayer. Without pronouncing upon the state of individuals in the sight of God, he assumed the whole body to be what they professed to be a body of real Christians. Prayers Against the Spirit of Affliction 16. And God has, in the meantime, a work for me to do, and until I have accomplished that work that God has in mind for me to do, God's going to preserve me and keep me until that day. They probably believed that God would reestablish The Twelve in the resurrestion. Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans (Acts 8:1417), 6. So there were sixteen soldiers altogether watching Peter in three-hour shifts, at all times chained to two of them while two were watching the door. The soldiers who were the guards over Peter were put to death, taking the sentence that was to be placed upon Peter. Israel had the truth presented to them as it was afterwards to all. Stephen prayed as he was being stoned (Acts 7:5560) 5. There were two exceptional occasions on which one or more of the apostles so acted, but at times of more general interest and importance nothing of the sort was heard of. But it was not merely one who departed to be with the Lord, which was far better; it was by the act of the Jews in the infuriate spirit of persecution. O LORD, Where Is My Future Partner 19. At once, with the instinct of flesh, he sees a good 'opportunity for himself, and, judging of others' hearts by his own, presents money as the means of acquiring the coveted power. But for himself and his household, what could he do but pray till the rich blessing came? It is therefore our wisdom to take heed of the beginnings of sin. Now about that time - That is, during the time that the famine existed, or the time when Barnabas and Saul went up to Jerusalem. . Of this we heard nothing in the divine history of the day of Pentecost; and I think that scripture is abundantly plain that there could have been nothing of the kind then and there. The Spirit of God alone quickens a person by faith in Christ. Genitive case of hos as adverb; at which place, i.e. As the Christian Jews became increasingly offensive to their racial brethren (cf. Now according to their law, during the times of the Feast of Passover, they could not have any trial, and so he determined to bring him forth at the end of the Feast of Passover. James the brother of John has been put to death by Herod. And "when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John." Lord Jesus stand by me in my times of trouble,23:11. And if anybody should try to take them, they can call down fire from heaven and consume them. II. Therefore, in an effort to please them he took action against the apostles by having one of them, James, executed (12:1-2).The execution of James pleased the Jews more than Herod expected, so next time he planned to kill the leading apostle, Peter (3-5). Thus on the great Gentile occasion, as before on the Jewish at Pentecost, the medium of man completely disappears. Saul was consenting unto Stephen's death, and Saul was the expression of Jewish feeling in its best aspect. James was the second Christian martyr whom Luke identified (cf. Precautions could go no further. Contrasts mark Acts 12:1-23: James dies, God delivers Peter, and Herod dies. Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Pray and say: Father, here am I, take me and use me. Egy eskv, az ifj pr szmra mr relatv korn reggel kezddik. Munkm sorn kett fnykpezvel s tbb TovbbEskv fotzs Pr fontos krds eskv szervezs idejn 2. rsz. (vi) To complete the list we may note that Herod Agrippa ( G67) , was the father of (a) Agrippa the Second, before whom Paul was examined and before whom he made his famous speech ( Acts 25:1-27; Acts 26:1-32). Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 1Ki 21:1 Near King Ahabs palace in Jezreel there was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. Summary: Acts 12 has both answered and unanswered prayers within it. "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." It has been about eight years since the martyrdom of Stephen. Three things we are here told he did--. He visits round about. Scripture does show, though it does not sanction as divine, a faith that is founded on evidence. The civil power, not now, as usual (for aught that appears) stirred up by the ecclesiastics, acts by itself in the persecution. King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter; whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church. * It is well to avoid a figure which churchism has ever turned to its own aggrandisement and the Lord's dishonour. Even his conduct in the arrest of Peter shows his desire to conciliate the Jews. EXCELENTE OPORTUNIDAD DEPARTAMENTO CNTRICO EN COSQUIN, OPORTUNIDAD CHALET VILLA MIRADOR DEL LAGO. 1.Here followeth new persecution raised by Herod. grace of God to sinners of the Gentiles as certainly as to the Jews to those who, in the judgment of the Jews, were nothing but refuse, vile, and unclean. He was one of the twelve who were commissioned to disciple all nations; and to take him off now, before he had removed from Jerusalem, was like Cain's killing Abel when the world was to be peopled, and one man was then more than many at another time. But to believe is the secret of real growth in the revealed wisdom of God. I cite from the Calvin Tr. Where they really didn't know if it was reality or just some spiritual revelation. In fact, it is thought by some that the upper room was actually in the house of Mary the mother of Mark. There is a mistake, not only in our vernacular Bible, but also in the common Greek text which is equally faulty as the authorized version. First of all, the apostles and the disciples themselves received it as they were waiting. Prayers Against The Spirit Of Backwardness 17. and to the brethren. Beheading was not ordinarily used among the Jews; but, when kings gave verbal orders for private and sudden executions, this manner of death was used, as most expeditious; and it is probable that this Herod killed James, as the other Herod killed John Baptist, privately in the prison. Also help me to bring to my mind some urgentprayerrequests. C. Evangelistic: Shows the saving power of the Gospel (Acts 16). [Note: See Longenecker, pp. They felt in a measure, and justly, the tremendous deed that had been done. But they said unto her, [You're crazy.] Why is it so important to love God and place Him first in Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural. Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark. In the portion which follows we shall see the manner of the Spirit of God's working by the great apostle of the Gentiles. 4. Kett darab professzionlis Canon fnykpezvel s nagy fnyerej fix illetve zoom Canon objektvekkel dolgozom. While the typical character of the Mosaic institution in general is recognised, it has not been sufficiently borne in mind that the Jewish nation itself in its external or political aspect, was a type, and nothing more, of the Christian Israel . Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular. Thus we see God had allowed things apparently to take their course. And so the Jewish Passover usually coincides closely with our Easter season. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) He spent some thirty years of his early life in Rome, but then came back and loved living in Jerusalem and was seeking to curry the favor of the Jews, living as the Jews lived. His glory burst on the astonished eyes of Saul, who surrenders immediately. How continually too where we least think they do! Pray we hate evil and cling to what is good (12:9). If Jesus was Jehovah, what then had his religion been? So about this time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. It is scarcely credible that he should lay hands on any of them himself in person; but it is very likely he encouraged his soldiers, or his servants, to abuse them, reproach them, strike and buffet them, as they met with them in the streets; or when at worship, might disturb them, and break them up. This remained; but he preached Him rather in His own personal glory, not as the Son of David, the servant, which was the great burden of Peter's preaching, made Lord and Christ; not that He was the Son of man in heaven, as Stephen witnessed; but that this Jesus, the Christ, is the Son of God, clearly therefore more particularly bound up with the divine nature, or godhead glory of Himself. WebDIVINE PRESERVATION PRAYER POINTS. He apparently became a believer only after Jesus resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7; cf. Conscience would have been searched by the truth of God; and the heart would have been filled with praise at the grace of God. He had no official office. God was meeting sinners as such, whatever they might be, giving no doubt a heavenly character to what had a heavenly source with a heavenly result. Herod the king This was Herod Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, and grandson of Herod the Great; he was nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John they Baptist, and brother to Herodias. Their lands lay to the north of Palestine and in two ways Herod could make things very difficult for them. Why so much haste and impatience? Though he had no reason to fear displeasing them if he did not, as Pilate condemned Christ, yet he hoped to please them by doing it, and so to make an interest among them, and make amends for displeasing them in something else. The King James translators just translated this word Easter because it does signify that same time of the year. Yet his masculine good sense held to the truth, though he did not know the solid basis on which it here stands. It is not the church of Judea, the church of Galilee, and the church of Samaria, but the churches of Judea, etc. It is always thus in the ways of God. The change in James may well be another great example of the power of the Cross to change the lives of men. It appears that the scattered men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who had gone in consequence of the persecution everywhere, and among other places to Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews, took courage now and spoke (not to the Grecians - for this had been done long ago, but) unto the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus." What a revolution this word caused in that mighty heart! We have only to extend this undoubted principle of interpretation to the Jewish people itself in its national that is, its legal-character, to perceive that the terms by which, in the Old Testament, its privileges are expressed, assume, when applied to Christians, a different meaning, or rather betoken the spiritual realities of which the former were but the types" (pp. Note, Blood to the blood-thirsty does but make them more so, and the way of persecution, as of other sins, is downhill; when men are in it, they cannot easily stop themselves; when they are in they find they must on. (b) Bernice (see Bernike G959) , who appeared with him when Paul was under examination. Pray that all the world would be saved and come to a Even now, although it is the gospel that God sends out, we know well how many, through a misuse of Old Testament teaching, plunge themselves into distress and doubt. The gift of the Spirit is not at all the same thing as the gifts. The previous gift of the Spirit without the intervention of any human hand was the most effectual stopper on the mouths of the brethren of the circumcision who were ever prone to object, and would surely have forbidden water, if God had not undeniably given them the unspeakable gift of the Spirit. They did not know anything about Easter in the early church. If Israel would have received, the Lord would have given. Josephus doth no where call him Herod, it may be, because he had a brother who was king of Chalcis, whose name was Herod. Gird yourself up and tie on your sandals. It must be his spirit. Moreover, in these chapters the Church of Christ is first spoken of as in actual existence. Oh Lord, deliver Peter" and all. arise and bring an end to the plaques on the land as a result of these evil acts in Jesus name. To return to the case of the Corinthians: on what principle, let us ask, did St. Paul reprove them for their inconsistencies? Gird yourself means to tie your skirt on up. It was not to be done by mere systematic rule of a human pattern. One of his wives, Miriam, had a son, Aristopollis that was murdered by Herod the Great, as was Miriam. It is prayer that expects no answer. The exercise of discipline is the true and legitimate expression of the sanctity of a visible Church considered as a society. Lord, help me to think about some real answers toprayerI have had. 12:20-25 Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. It is not His operation in enabling souls to believe, but a precious boon given to such as believed. He was the ruler of Galilee and Peraea. It was at the feast of the passover, when their celebrating the memorial of their typical deliverance should have led them to the acceptance of their spiritual deliverance; instead of this, they, under pretence of zeal for the law, were most violently fighting against it, and, in the days of unleavened bread, were most soured and embittered with the old leaven of malice and wickedness. - And were praying for praying, A.V. (c) Drusilla (see Drousilla G1409) , who was the wife of Felix, the governor before whom Paul was tried ( Acts 24:24). It is of interest to see, and should be better known, that among the Gentiles were not wanting such as worshipped no idols but served the true and living God. There is a certain mystery about him. (i) Herod Philip the First. And so they would gird themselves up, that is, they would take the sash and they would pull the robe up to the knees and then they would tie the sash so that the robe would then be short and they could run faster. God knows exactly the day and the circumstances by which He's going to take me home. I do not therefore comment upon these additions here: they will remain for their own real and suitable places. . The importance of closer attention to the text is well shown by Calvin's remarks on this verse. I pray thatI may read its pages with wisdom and understanding. Now Herod was highly displeased with those that were from Tyre and Sidon ( Acts 12:19-20 ): Cities that exist to the present day that have been in the news quite a bit of late as Israel has gone into southern Lebanon. Korbban, filmes idszakban meggondolta TovbbEskvi fots munkja, vrl vre emberek tzezrei dntenek gy, hogy letket sszektik, csaldot alaptanak sboldogsgban lnek. Agabus had come to Antioch and predicted a great drought was going to come, and so they took up a collection to take back to the saints in Jerusalem. And yet he had in his possession that famous Graeco-Latin Uncial (D) which he presented to the University of Cambridge in 1581, which MS. supports the Alexandrian. stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church: Herod, not unlike politicians of today, must have been checking the popularity polls when he learns it will make him politically popular to oppress the Christians (verse 3); therefore, he takes it upon himself to bring a violent attack upon the Lords church. This prayer lacks Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. In the reign of Claudius also, the dominions of Herod Agrippa were still further enlarged. Vincent says the word "vex" is used "in the older and stronger sense of torment or oppress rather than its modern usage of petty annoyances" (508). Nor is it that the other disciples had not the same faith. Did he not feel so much the more settled in Jesus as there was no other object now before his soul? Philip is found at Azotus, and passing through he preaches elsewhere. 1. (EntityRef: expecting ';' at line 50, column 103) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230 It is not only that God uses one and another: this He does and we may bless Him that so He does; but the God who employs means is also above them, and He needs now only to draw out by circumstances the souls of some simple Christian men who had faith and love to seek the Gentiles without requiring the same vigorous and extraordinary means, under His mighty hand, as even the apostle did. He was ruler of Ituraea and Trachonitis. To Antipas, Galilee and Perea; and to Archclaus, Judea, Idumea, and Samaria. What a wonderful change for these poor Gentiles to know Christ for themselves, and to be called after Christ! "It can't be real. Because it is not connected with events in the chapters immediately before and after it, however, it may seem rather isolated and unimportant for Acts as a whole. This is all quite right. He was also the Herod to whom Pilate sent Jesus for trial ( Luke 23:7 ff.). But why would God permit it? (These were the days of unleavened bread). He was ruler of Judaea, Samaria and Idumaea. This scene does show the stranger discovering the predicted Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah suffering, no doubt, but accomplishing atonement. The place once so famous for its nicknames was now to give a name that will never perish a name of incalculable sweetness and blessing, connecting Christ as it does with those that are His. Iturea, Trachonitis, Abilene, with Gaulonitis, Batanaea, and Penias. So James is now following his Lord in martyrdom, the brother of John. But even this short mention of the thing is sufficient to let us know that the first preachers of the gospel were so well assured of the truth of it that they sealed it with their blood, and thereby have encouraged us, if at any time we are called to it, to resist unto blood too.