Friday, April 20, 2012

AND THE CHURCH GREW


Acts 12

It was persecution that spread the church out from Jerusalem.  After Stephen was stoned to death the persecution increased to such a degree that “all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1).  Some time passed and Saul was converted on his way to Damascus and “the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace” (Acts 9:31).  The church continued to grow in numbers and faith and strength.

The beginning of Acts 12 tells us that King Herod decided to initiate an action against the church.  He arrested some of the believers and was planning to persecute them.  He executed James, the son of Zebedee.  We’re not told why he made such a decision in the first place but we find out in verse 3 that his actions met with the approval of the Jews.  Herod, the consummate politician, saw an opportunity to gain support among the religious leaders of the people and proceeded to arrest Peter.  He was planning a public trial for Peter and then most likely a very public execution as well.  His plan was foiled by the miraculous deliverance of Peter from the prison by an angel. 

In spite of Peter’s escape, Herod was riding a wave of popularity in Jerusalem.  He traveled north to Caesarea where he had to handle some more political problems.  The people of Tyre and Sidon had been in conflict with Herod and that had to be settled.  It seems the people had a change of heart because they were dependent on Herod’s government dole (Acts 12:20).  They decided they needed to curry Herod’s favor.  This is what we read…

“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’ (Acts 12 21, 22).

Oh how that must have been music in Herod’s ears!  He was really on a roll!  Things were going very well back home in Jerusalem and now he’d won a great triumph in the northern cities.  He was really something else!  His future looked bright.  He would crush the church and be recognized as a god!  But then things changed drastically…

“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” (Acts 12:23).

That’s usually where teachers stop and teach a lesson.  It’s a good point and one we should take to heart.  God will not tolerate men who think they are gods.  Pride kills.  But I want to move on to the next verse…

“But the word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:24).

A mighty king sought power by persecuting the Church of Christ.  He met with some success and decided to press his advantage against the Church.  He had all the power.  He had all the authority of Rome behind him.  The Christians may have thought things couldn’t get much worse.  Perhaps they were fearfully expecting to hear the heavy footfalls of Herod’s soldiers at any time.  A man on top of the world was eaten by little worms and died.

The Church has faced persecution and trials throughout history.  Much of the Church is still persecuted today.  And our own “Christian nation” is moving away from Christian principles so fast that things might begin to look pretty dark to some of us.  But here is the message of the passage as I read it today:  In this election year and in this campaign season we might hear a number of fearful voices raised against one candidate or another.  We might hear a number of popular voices worrying about the future of Christianity in America.  The lesson of Herod is that  no man, no government, no false god can ever stop the increase of God’s word, God’s Church, or God’s kingdom.  Rise up, O Church of God! 

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