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- Acts Chapter 12
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
Good morning Saints! ☀️
No time to waste. Let’s get into it.
After Stephen was killed, everything changed. Persecution hit the church hard, but instead of stopping them, it caused believers to scatter. And as they scattered, they spread the message of Jesus far beyond Jerusalem.
They went to places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and for the first time, they started sharing the gospel with Gentiles—non-Jews. In Antioch, a foundation began to be laid. Sparks of faith started to catch fire, and the message of Jesus spread quickly.
Barnabas was sent to encourage the new believers, and he knew he needed help. So, he went to Tarsus to find Paul, who had been there since his conversion. Together, they spent a year teaching in Antioch, and it was here that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.”
What looked like a disaster—persecution—actually caused the church to grow and spread, and God used Paul and Barnabas to help lead this new movement, reaching even more people.
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
Herod and his Sons: New Testament Villans
Herod the Great was the ruler during Jesus' birth. He is known for his massive building projects, including the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem.
It was this Herod who met with the Magi when they came seeking the newborn "king," and it was this Herod who ordered the deaths of all male babies in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus. Read Matthew 2:1-18.
Herod the Great was married multiple times, reportedly up to ten, and he was known for his paranoia and ruthlessness.
He had several family members, including his own sons Alexander and Aristobulus, killed because he thought they were plotting against him.
He also had one of his wives, Mariamne, and her mother executed out of suspicion that they were part of conspiracies against him.
Herod Antipas was the tetrarch during Jesus' ministry. He lured Herodias, his brother Herod Philip's wife, into marrying him, which ultimately led to the beheading of John the Baptist. It was this Herod who mocked Jesus during His trial. Read Luke 3, Mark 6, Luke 23.
(When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided among his sons. Each son ruled over a portion of the kingdom, and those rulers were often referred to as tetrarchs.)
Herod Philip (Herod II) was the first husband of Herodias and stayed out of the public eye. Read Matthew 14.
Philip the Tetrarch (Herod Philip II) was the tetrarch who built Caesarea Philippi and governed the northeastern part of Herod the Great’s kingdom. Read Luke 3.
And that brings us to Herod of Chapter 12.
Herod Agrippa I persecuted early Christians and killed James, the brother of John. He was the grandson of Herod the Great.
It’s incredible to think about the amount of paranoia and cruelty one family stirred into the world of Jesus and the early Christians.
He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
The chapter begins with Herod Agrippa killing James, one of the 12 Apostles.
James wasn’t just one of the twelve Apostles; he was also part of Jesus’ inner circle of three.
Mark 9:2 - James is one of the three Apostles (along with Peter and John) present at the Transfiguration of Jesus: "And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them."
Mark 5:37 – James, along with Peter and John, is one of the few Apostles Jesus allows to witness the raising of Jairus' daughter: "And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James."
Matthew 26:36-37 – In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John farther with him during His time of prayer: "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled."
According to Eusebius, a 4th-century historian citing Clement of Alexandria, James was brought before the authorities, sentenced to death by beheading. On his way to execution, James’s courage and strong faith deeply moved one of the guards escorting him.
The story goes that this guard was so inspired by James’s faith that he declared his belief in Jesus right there. Choosing to stand with James, the guard was also sentenced to death, and the two were beheaded together.
Herod killed James, the first Apostle to be martyred, and, seeing how much the Jewish leaders loved it, he threw Peter in prison, planning to kill him next. He soaked in his power—and he wanted more.
This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
The mention of “the Days of Unleavened Bread” is important because it was a key Jewish festival, and many Jews were gathered in Jerusalem. Herod wanted to send a bold message by persecuting the uprising Christian church. But, because executions weren’t allowed during Passover, Herod would have to wait to kill Peter.
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
A Roman squad typically had four soldiers, so Peter being guarded by 'four squads of soldiers' meant he was watched by sixteen soldiers in total.
These soldiers would take shifts, with each group of four guarding Peter in rotation throughout the day and night to make sure they constantly watched over him.
Two soldiers were chained to Peter, while two others stood guard at the entrance to prevent an escape.
The Power of Prayer
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
The word "earnest" comes from the Greek word ἐκτενής (ektenēs). This word conveys the idea of intense, fervent, and continuous effort. It suggests a deep, persistent prayer that is more than casual or routine—it's urgent and heartfelt, showing the church's serious concern for Peter's situation.
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
The night before his execution, Peter was… SLEEPING!
Peter’s trust in God wasn’t just theoretical—he would later write, 'Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you' (1 Peter 5:7), words shaped by the intense trials he would experience throughout his life.
Peter knew what it was to lean on God completely. It’s humbling… and inspiring.
Herod flexes his power.
As a king under Roman rule, he could arrest, imprison, and execute people, which he used to control and intimidate. He used his power of fear and force to maintain his rule.
But the early believers had a different kind of power—the power of the Holy Spirit. They couldn’t control armies or make laws, but they could pray with boldness.
We have that same power today. Yet. I still find myself rushing through prayer. Sometimes, many times, my prayers feel routine.
Lord, stir my heart with the same urgency and passion that moved the early church.
Holy Spirit, break through my routines and draw me into earnest, desperate prayer.
Help me to come to You with a heart that aches for Your presence and trusts in Your power.
Make my prayers bold and persistent, as I lean on the same strength that sustained them.
I want to seek You with everything I have.
One disciple was martyred, and one was rescued. Did the church pray for James?
I’m sure of it. So why didn’t God answer their prayers?
He did.
He said no.
A good friend from Cuba once said, “We are immortal until we fulfill His purposes.”
God is sovereign. His plans are higher than ours, and sometimes His answers don’t align with what we hope for. But His purposes are always at work, even in ways we can’t see. James’s death and Peter’s rescue both served His Kingdom, reminding us that each life, each outcome, is held in His hands.
Was it sad that James was martyred? In earthly terms, yes. But in light of eternity? Not at all. He was the first to see his Savior face to face, even reaching heaven before Peter.
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Most scholars believe that John Mark, a close companion of Peter, wrote the first Gospel. His Gospel most likely reflects Peter’s firsthand experiences with Jesus.
The original manuscripts of the Bible didn’t have titles like we see today. Titles such as “The Gospel According to Mark” were added later to clarify authorship.
Since Mark’s Gospel is believed to be based on Peter’s account, some even suggest it could almost be called “Peter’s Gospel,” though Mark wrote it down.
Imagine the scene…
Peter hurried through the quiet streets, heart pounding. Chains had fallen off, gates had opened wide, and now he was standing—free!—outside Mary’s house, where the others were gathered.
He knocked, glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting soldiers to appear at any second. “It’s me, Peter. Let me in!” he whispered, knocking louder.
Nothing.
He could hear voices inside, murmured prayers.
He kept knocking.
He heard footsteps shuffle to the door. Then, a small voice, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Peter. Let me in!”
There was a pause. Then, the footsteps faded, and Peter heard voices echoing inside the house.
“Peter’s at the door!”
A chorus of groans and eye rolls. “Are you crazy!” someone muttered, “Peter’s in prison. We’re praying for his release.”
Peter knocked louder. And then… the door swung open, and they stood there, frozen in shock.
But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.
I know I’ve said it before, but I LOVE this chapter! LOVE it. I’ll be wrapping it up next Saturday, and I’ll send a midweek update, so keep an eye out!
One Minute Inspiration
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family are expanding to Cuba in 2024.