Acts 12: Summary, Key Verses and Study Questions

About that time King Herod lays violent hands on some who belong to the church and kills James, the brother of John, with the sword. Seeing that it pleases the Jews, he also arrests Peter, during the days of Unleavened Bread. He puts him in prison, guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter is kept in prison, earnest prayer for him is made to God by the church.

The night before the trial, Peter is sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries at the door. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appears, a light shines in the cell, and he wakes Peter. The chains fall off, and the angel tells him to dress, put on his sandals and follow him. They pass the first and second guard, and the iron gate leading to the city opens by itself. When they have gone along one street, the angel leaves him, and Peter, coming to himself, says that he knows the Lord has sent his angel and rescued him from Herod's hand.

He goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together praying. A servant girl, Rhoda, recognizes his voice, is so overjoyed that she does not open the gate and runs to tell them; they do not believe her and say it is his angel. Peter keeps knocking; when they open, they see him and are amazed. He quiets them, tells how the Lord brought him out and asks them to tell James and the brothers. Then he leaves. At daybreak Herod orders the guards put to death.

Herod goes down to Caesarea. On an appointed day, in royal robes, he addresses the people, who shout that it is the voice of a god, not of a man. At once an angel of the Lord strikes him down because he did not give God the glory, and he is eaten by worms and dies. But the word of God continues to grow and multiply. Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem with John Mark.

This chapter encourages us to pray about situations that seem closed. The church was praying for a man due to be executed the next day, and God answered in a way they themselves did not expect. In your group you can write down requests that seem hopeless and pray together with perseverance.

The honesty of the account also comforts: not everyone was rescued, James died, and prayer is not a formula. God remains sovereign, both when he delivers and when he allows suffering, and his word keeps growing.