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Introduction
The Heidelberg Catechism, Answer 95, defines idolatry as having or inventing something in which we trust, alongside or in place of the only true God revealed in his Word. Isaiah 44 shows the absurdity of it: a man cuts down a tree, carves it into a god with his own hands. He makes his god to worship. He protects his god.
Our idols might be safe because we can control who they are, but they cannot protect us. We might think that following God is safe, but following our Lord is dangerous, because we do not know what tomorrow holds. We have to trust that our Lord will see us through whatever we face.
We have had it easy in America. Our persecution and suffering are minimal. The downside is we can grow lax in our Christian faith. We quietly doubt that God is our shield and defender. This is something that God’s people have struggled with through world history. In fact, we see the same unbelief in Acts. The church prays for Peter while refusing to believe that Peter is delivered from prison.
We can doubt the Lord’s protection, but how do we really know that God can and will protect us in this age?
Herod Unhinged
Herod is serious about exercising his authority. He is unhappy with Christianity and decides to be popular with Jerusalem. Luke tells us that he does not just make things tough, but he lays violent hands on the church. Herod shows he means business when he puts James to death. He imprisons Peter, intending to execute him after the Passover.
We can blame Herod, or we can blame the city’s attitude, but we really should think about human nature. We can be so committed to our systems that we miss Christ. The opposition to the gospel reminds us that we must continually bring our priorities before the Lord. We are called to discern and submit to his word.
The Lord shows again and again in his word that he is a shield and defender. It might seem that Herod has the upper hand in Acts 12, but the Lord will show that he is serious about his redemptive purpose. Our call is to be in line with the Lord’s purpose as the Lord defines it.
Herod Hindered
Herod is not the only ruler in the story. His desire to make an example of Peter is thwarted by the true King of kings and Lord of lords.
Herod has his prisoner. Peter is chained between two guards. Herod sets two guards outside the door. There are 16 guards total assigned, which means a 3-hour rotation between guards to keep watch during the night (Acts 12:4). Herod’s plan to execute Peter is set.
The Lord shows his hand. Peter thinks that he is having a vision. An angel strikes his side and leads Peter out of the prison. Peter does not realize that this is real until he is outside the prison.
Peter is delivered. He goes to John Mark’s mother only to be met with disbelief. They do not rush to the gate to let him into the house but assume that Rhoda, the servant girl, is just seeing his angel. Eventually, they see that the Lord delivered Peter.
The church that was praying for him underestimated the Lord’s protection. At the same time, James' death reminds us that we do not always understand the Lord's providence or know how he will answer our prayers. The most we can say is that James’ martyrdom confirms the Lord’s word (Mark 10:39) and shows Herod’s conviction to make war with God. Peter’s deliverance shows that the Lord still has work for Peter. He will be led where he does not want to go (John 21:18-19), but today is not that day.
If we find ourselves in a season of struggle or triumph, we are called to trust our Lord. Our days are numbered by him; he will protect us, and we will live out those days. May we do so as a people discerning his will, desiring to live as living sacrifices before him.
Herod Hereafter
Herod interrogates the soldiers, which is exactly what we would expect. Herod does not believe God is on Peter’s side, so there is only one explanation: someone is paid off.
I would bet money that every one of those men made a persuasive case that they were clean when Herod launched his investigation. They would make such a persuasive case because they were not paid off. In fact, Luke implies in verse 18 that there was a great commotion among the soldiers. They were accusing each other of wrongdoing. An accusation that most likely would arise is, “Who took the money? Who is dirty?” Herod doubts that the Lord is more powerful than his prison. A man does not simply walk out of a cell. No one makes a fool of Herod. He executes the guards.
Then he goes to Caesarea to get away. There is a rift with Tyre and Sidon. We are not told the particulars, but these port cities trade access for food. It's possible there was an economic dispute, perhaps even an attempt to negotiate better arrangements. Maybe they thought they could press Herod for better terms and discovered that wasn't such a good idea. We don't know. What we do know is that they understood their dependence upon the king's territory, and they came seeking peace. This is a man you don't want to cross, and they recognized that.
Herod attends the games in Caesar’s honor. Josephus gives us the rest (Josephus 19 Chapter 8, Paragraph 2). Herod watches the first day of the games. The second day of the games, he wears a silver garment glittering in the sun. He gives a speech. The report is that it was intimidating to see Herod reflecting the sun’s radiance. The crowd cries that there is a god in their midst.
Herod never corrects this claim. Herod makes himself to be a god. But remember that Peter was struck, and now Herod is struck. Herod’s death is not arbitrary. Luke wants us to see that Herod’s treatment of the Lord’s people and Herod’s claim to be mightier than God are what result in his death. This is divine justice.
Herod experiences stomach pain, and he leaves early, and a few days later he is dead. And this is what Luke would have us understand: there is no man, no power, no ruler, no god bigger than our God. God’s decrees come to pass. God numbers our days, and we will live out that number. No ruler rises above him.
Then Luke reminds us that the church continued to go forward. History will ebb and flow as the seed of the woman and serpent will continue to battle until Christ returns. Christ’s resurrection assures us that the serpent will never prevail. Herod was wrong to think he was on the winning side.
Conclusion
Can God deliver his people? Can he show himself to be the God of gods? Yes. As we look at this narrative, we see Herod seeking to make war against God, setting himself up as though he could usurp the authority of heaven. But the Lord makes it clear that his purposes will stand. Christ is not joking when he promises that his church will prevail and that his bound people will enter heaven (Matthew 16:18-19; "The Keys of the Kingdom”) .
As Paul reminds us, the Lord is able to do far more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). Let us come before our Lord in the confidence that he is our shield and defender. This does not mean that every day will be easy. We cannot say that prosperity is piety. We also cannot say that poverty is a sign of piety. The Lord brings his people through different seasons of life, and we do not always understand his ways. Nevertheless, our confidence is that God will shepherd us through each and every one of those days or seasons. May we be a people who desire to be shepherded by our God.