Acts - Week 40

Week 40 Acts 12 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 12:15-16 

15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 

Those fervently praying for Peter could not believe he was at the door. They thought the servant girl has lost her mind. He kept knocking and finally they opened the door. When they saw him “they were amazed.” This reveals even though they were passionately praying for him, they didn’t really believe God would answer their prayer. They may have been praying for Peter’s safety, but God did something even greater—He got him out of prison.  

REFLECT 

Have you had times when God surprised you with the way He answered your prayer? If so, who do you think would be encouraged to have you share this?.  

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple and be honest with each other about God surprising you with an answer to prayer. Discuss what that teaches you about prayer. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 12:17 

17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place. 

Finally Peter was let in. He quieted them down and told them what happened. He told them to tell James and others. This reveals that “James” was a common name. Verse 2 said the “apostle James” was killed. This was the brother of John. The James in verse 17 was likely the half-brother of Jesus, born after Jesus’ virgin birth. It is unsure where Peter went, but it was to “another place.” He used common sense to leave the area after the miracle. 

REFLECT 

Consider Peter’s actions: even though he had been delivered from prison by a miracle, he used common sense to leave the area. Believing in the sovereignty of God does not mean you neglect using the wisdom God has given you to be as safe as you can be. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Proverbs 8:13-15 that tells about the benefits of wisdom, one of which is common sense. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 12:18-19 

18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while. 

The penalty for a guard letting a prisoner escape was death. Herod had all 16 of them executed who were assigned to guard Peter. As Luke records these events, he quickly moves on to say Herod left the area and went to Caesarea. This was the Roman provincial capital in Judea, a vacation area on the Mediterranean. It seems this was an incident behind Herod Agrippa now. and Luke goes on to record another event involving him.  

REFLECT 

The characteristic of a believer in Christ is that he will not move on from sad incidents. If the believer has caused harm, confession is needed to be made to the one harmed and confession to the Lord. 

RESPOND 

Help make your disciple sensitive to confessing sin when it occurs. Read 1 John 1:8-10 and talk about what it is saying. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 12:20-22 

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!” 

It is not known why Herod was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon, cities on the coast of the Mediterranean. Those from those areas needed to make peace with Herod as they needed food he controlled. Because of the kindness of his personal assistant, they were able to meet with Herod. Herod liked the splendor of royalty so he put on his robes and made a speech. The people thought the speech was so great they said it was the “voice of a god, not of a man.” What will Herod do now? Will he give glory to the God of heaven or receive it for himself?  

REFLECT 

Consider how important it is to give any praise to God that is directed to you. Think of yourself as a vessel to give glory to God for anything He has enabled you to do. 

RESPOND 

Read Psalm 148:4-6 to see the emphasis of praising God for everything.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 12:23-25 

23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died. 24 Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them. 

Herod’s life was taken because he received the praise for himself rather than directing it to God. He served false gods, but he was accountable to the true God. As Luke records the events in Acts, he now moves on to tell about Barnabas and Saul who will be key Christ-followers in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. They take John Mark with them. 

REFLECT 

Think of the lesson you learn about Herod not praising the true God. Although God does not strike dead everyone who does the same, this reveals God’s anger at those who serve other gods.  

RESPOND 

Read Exodus 20:3-6 about how jealous God is for His glory. Talk about this with your disciple.