What is the theme of this chapter?
Persecutions of Herod.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verse 1
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
Adoration of any human being robs God of the glory that is rightfully His. This can happen all too easily today too, with movie stars, sports celebrities, politicians, entrepreneurs...and well-known pastor and speakers. Certainly something to be careful of!
And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22)
Additional observations/questions:
It has been asked, why did God rescue Peter but James was allowed to be killed? Ryrie explains that God's ways are just inscrutable. Sometimes this is very true. But what makes sense to me is that James' death was another indication that the earthly establishment of the kingdom was going to be postponed. Because of Israel's continued unbelief, God lifted his protecting hand from one of the Twelve (Matt 19:28; Acts 1:15-26; 2:4). Peter was spared for a time because God still had an important role for him to play in the setting aside of Israel and the recognition of Paul as the apostle of the new economy. So in this case God's ways don't seem completely inscrutable; we just need to look a little deeper.
Persecutions of Herod.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verse 1
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
Adoration of any human being robs God of the glory that is rightfully His. This can happen all too easily today too, with movie stars, sports celebrities, politicians, entrepreneurs...and well-known pastor and speakers. Certainly something to be careful of!
And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22)
Additional observations/questions:
It has been asked, why did God rescue Peter but James was allowed to be killed? Ryrie explains that God's ways are just inscrutable. Sometimes this is very true. But what makes sense to me is that James' death was another indication that the earthly establishment of the kingdom was going to be postponed. Because of Israel's continued unbelief, God lifted his protecting hand from one of the Twelve (Matt 19:28; Acts 1:15-26; 2:4). Peter was spared for a time because God still had an important role for him to play in the setting aside of Israel and the recognition of Paul as the apostle of the new economy. So in this case God's ways don't seem completely inscrutable; we just need to look a little deeper.
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