Acts 12:1-19 Bible Study

Welcome to the study of  Acts 12:1-19 !  V iew this welcome video first.  Then, read the passage,  imagining you are at the scene.  Notice what emotions, thoughts, and/or responses you have to the passage: Acts 12:1-19 12About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. 6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord app...

Persecution by the Empire Enter today's study by first  listening to this song  by Audrey Assad.  Definition of "Empire:"  A major political unit having a number of territories and/or peoples under a single sovereign authority; this authority being an emperor as chief of state; imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion  (Merriam-Webster).  With the song  and  the definition of “Empire” in mind, read Acts 12:1-6 slowly, out loud if able:  1About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently...

An Angel Frees Peter from Prison - mid 12th century,  on display at Cappella Palatina di Palermo, Italy God Acts in the Face of Resistance You are invited to begin this study letting these words wash over you from the ELW Service of Healing: In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, may you be strengthened and filled with God’s grace, that you may know the healing power of the Spirit. Amen. Check out the painting of Peter’s liberation from prison above.  What details stand out to you? Bear this image in mind as you read Acts 12:7-11 slowly, out loud if possible: 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists.  8 The angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’  9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize th...

Sanctuario de Chimayo, NM - Photo credit Craig Pynn, 2010 Enter today’s study with the words of the familiar Taize chant, “O Lord, hear my prayer”  (here’s a link to audio if desired ) O Lord, hear my prayer O Lord, hear my prayer When I call, answer me O Lord, hear my prayer O Lord, hear my prayer Come and listen to me In verse 5, we read that the church prayed fervently for Peter. In the following passage, we read again that those at Mary’s house were gathered and praying: Acts 12:12-19 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind!’ But she insisted that it was so. They said, ‘It is his angel.’...

The Apostle Peter, Greco, 1541 In Closing One last invitation: read (or listen to the audio, NIV translation in a wicked British accent here) the passage in it's entirety: Acts 12:1-19    About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.    The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He ta...

Further Resources for Study There’s no way I could mine the depth of this passage in one short Bible study, nor is there much out there that felt theologically sound on this particular passage. But, if you are interested in further resources, here are a few recommendations: Willie James Jennings , Acts, First edition, Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017). While not specific to Acts 12, a helpful Bible study resource: Ray Pickett, Acts Learner Guide: Books of Faith (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2012). https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9781451402742/Acts-Learner-Guide-Books-of-Faith On paying attention to the Holy Spirit in the context of corporate worship: Jonathan Linman, Holy Conversation: Spirituality for Worship (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2010). https://fortresspress.com/product/holy-conversation-spirituality-worship