Act 12:1-4 | KingComments | STEP | of this chapter are an intermediate section. From onward the thread with Barnabas and Saul is taken up again, about whom we have read in the last verse of the previous chapter ( ). In this intermediate section, Luke records the death of James by Herod, the arrest of Peter by and his deliverance from the hand of Herod and the death of Herod. The deeper meaning of this intermediate section seems to lie in the typological sphere. We have seen in Acts 10-11 the work of God’s Spirit He began among the nations. This means that the connection with Judaism is weakening. The emphasis will lie on Christendom among the nations. Before Luke continues his account of this shift to the nations, we see in this section how, once the dispensation of the nations is over, God takes up the thread with Israel again. That is why we are taken back to Jerusalem for a moment and then leave it forever – except for a single incident. There we find Herod, who is a type or picture of the antichrist who persecutes the faithful remnant in Jerusalem. We have a type or picture of the faithful remnant in both James and Peter. Just as we see with these two apostles, we also see with the remnant that during the great tribulation a part is killed and a part is spared. The Herod who plays a leading role in this section is the third Herod mentioned in the New Testament. The first wanted to kill the Lord Jesus, the second had John the baptist beheaded and the third is responsible for the death of James. James was killed in the same way as many Old Testament martyrs ( ). There is another aspect we can mention of Herod that is in connection with the gospel. We see in Herod the political obstacle to the proclamation of the gospel, which is overcome by prayer. In Peter’s case, laws of purity were a hindrance to the gospel, a religious hindrance, but also that hindrance has been overcome by God. Both religious and political authorities have always been instruments in the hand of satan to stop the course of the gospel, but always in vain. It seems that Herod has been successful in his campaign against the Christians. He lays hands on some of the church to do them harm. If he gets his hands on James, he has captured one of the leading figures of the new movement. He has put to death James with a sword, which is tantamount to having him beheaded. It is about James who is further referred to as “the brother of John”. This happens so as not to confuse him with James the brother of the Lord. He and John and Peter have been with the Lord in His transfiguration on the mountain and they have been eyewitnesses of the glory of the Lord ( ). The experience on the mountain was the confirmation of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Christ in glory. As three witnesses they have seen that. Herod begins to kill these witnesses. He has killed James, he wants to kill Peter and who will say if not also John was on his list. The devil always wants to eliminate witnesses. James is the first of the apostles to die of martyrdom. He is not replaced as an apostle, as Judas was at the time ( ).

‏ Acts 12:1-4

James Put to Death

Acts 12:1-24 of this chapter are an intermediate section. From Acts 12:25 onward the thread with Barnabas and Saul is taken up again, about whom we have read in the last verse of the previous chapter (Acts 11:30). In this intermediate section, Luke records the death of James by Herod, the arrest of Peter by and his deliverance from the hand of Herod and the death of Herod.

The deeper meaning of this intermediate section seems to lie in the typological sphere. We have seen in Acts 10-11 the work of God’s Spirit He began among the nations. This means that the connection with Judaism is weakening. The emphasis will lie on Christendom among the nations.

Before Luke continues his account of this shift to the nations, we see in this section how, once the dispensation of the nations is over, God takes up the thread with Israel again. That is why we are taken back to Jerusalem for a moment and then leave it forever – except for a single incident. There we find Herod, who is a type or picture of the antichrist who persecutes the faithful remnant in Jerusalem.

We have a type or picture of the faithful remnant in both James and Peter. Just as we see with these two apostles, we also see with the remnant that during the great tribulation a part is killed and a part is spared.

The Herod who plays a leading role in this section is the third Herod mentioned in the New Testament. The first wanted to kill the Lord Jesus, the second had John the baptist beheaded and the third is responsible for the death of James. James was killed in the same way as many Old Testament martyrs (Heb 11:37).

There is another aspect we can mention of Herod that is in connection with the gospel. We see in Herod the political obstacle to the proclamation of the gospel, which is overcome by prayer. In Peter’s case, laws of purity were a hindrance to the gospel, a religious hindrance, but also that hindrance has been overcome by God. Both religious and political authorities have always been instruments in the hand of satan to stop the course of the gospel, but always in vain.

It seems that Herod has been successful in his campaign against the Christians. He lays hands on some of the church to do them harm. If he gets his hands on James, he has captured one of the leading figures of the new movement. He has put to death James with a sword, which is tantamount to having him beheaded. It is about James who is further referred to as “the brother of John”. This happens so as not to confuse him with James the brother of the Lord.

He and John and Peter have been with the Lord in His transfiguration on the mountain and they have been eyewitnesses of the glory of the Lord (Lk 9:28 ; 32). The experience on the mountain was the confirmation of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Christ in glory. As three witnesses they have seen that. Herod begins to kill these witnesses. He has killed James, he wants to kill Peter and who will say if not also John was on his list. The devil always wants to eliminate witnesses.

James is the first of the apostles to die of martyrdom. He is not replaced as an apostle, as Judas was at the time (Acts 1:20-26).

Peter Arrested

In the following verses, Luke draws attention once more to Peter before he disappears from the stage in Acts except for one more performance in Acts 15. The Jews have not yet lost any of their hatred of Christians. They welcomed the death of James. When Herod notices this, he wants to take political advantage of it. In order to be even more favorable to the Jews, he continues his campaign of purification. He then arrests Peter, which is the third time he is arrested.

Just like Pilate, Herod also acts with the favor of the people in mind. Common feelings of hatred bring Herod and the Jews together. The hatred of the Jews concerns the worship of the Lord Jesus as God. According to them, this is apostasy from God, because to them He is only a human being and the worship of a human being is punishable by death.

Because of the feast, the execution does not take place immediately. The reference to the days of Unleavened Bread means that the Passover was celebrated. It was a reminder of the time when the people were under foreign domination, but from which God delivered His people. Here the Christian people of God are oppressed by political power, as will be the case in the end times with the faithful remnant. But just as God delivered His people at the time so that they might serve Him, so He is delivering His own now and in the future. In all times political powers have tried to prevent the serving of God.

In this case of Peter, Herod leaves nothing to chance. He will certainly have heard of the previous imprisonments of Peter and how he has been delivered from them twice. That will not happen to him. So he will keep those weak Christians with his security measures from plans to deliver Peter. Only, the question is not what Herod is doing. What matters is what God can do.

Herod’s security measures are firm. Peter is guarded by four squads of soldiers. That means that he is guarded by four men every three hours, to the four periods of three hours in which the night is divided. Two soldiers of each squad are chained to Peter and two soldiers are on guard at the door. So the guarding is all right.

But there is a battle going on in another area that nullifies all security measures of any kind. That is the battle of prayer. This is what the church is involved in. The church has come into being in an atmosphere of prayer (Acts 1:14 ; Acts 2:42) and persists in this attitude. The postponement of the execution of Peter is used by the church to pray for him.

This is indeed what may be called a prayer meeting! The imprisonment of Peter, with the terrifying death of James still fresh in memory, drives the church to fervent prayer. The power of prayer is greater than the power of Herod, yes, than the power of hell. Several days are spent in prayer with only one subject: Peter. It is a fervent communal prayer, it is addressed to God and it is a concrete prayer: for Peter (Heb 13:3; Rev 5:8).

An initial effect of the prayer can be seen in the peace Peter has. While he knows what Herod intends to do with him, he is not restless, but asleep. This sleep is a victory of faith. He sleeps the sleep of the righteous. On the one hand he knows what happened to his good friend James. On the other hand he has the experience that the Lord has delivered him from prison before. He has put everything in the hand of the Lord. What He decides is good and that gives him the rest to sleep. He has slept at times where he had to remain awake, such as at the transfiguration of the Lord on the mountain (Lk 9:32) and at the Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane (Mt 26:40), but now he sleeps in peace (Psa 4:8 ; Psa 3:5-6).