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Kedves Ltogat! How could its reality be doubted? . Philip is told by the angel of the Lord to arise and go towards the south towards "Gaza, which is desert." And when Herod Agrippa saw this pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Kulturltan fotzom, nem nyomok senki arcba egy teleszkpot. Though the Spirit of the Lord catches away Philip, so full is his heart of the truth that we may be sure all that occurred confirmed it in his eyes. It may be observed passingly, that thus plainly baptizing is in no way a necessarily ministerial act. Though not at first fully aware of the great change which had taken place in their religious standing, still less of its ultimate consequences, the first believers at once formed a separate community in the bosom of the Jewish theocracy; a community having, for its distinctive marks, adherence to the twelve Apostles, baptism in the name of Christ, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper. 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ;' 'that I may be comforted by the mutual faith both of you and me;' did St. Paul, when he thus wrote, regard himself as but nominally interested in the blessings of redemption? Finally, when the angel left and Peter was standing on the street, he said, "Hey, it wasn't a dream. characteristic of Christendom. In fact, it tells us much aboutprayer. Conscience would have been searched by the truth of God; and the heart would have been filled with praise at the grace of God. Finally, and in few words (for I do not intend to say more on Acts 12:1-25 tonight), we have the completing of this second part of our narrative in this chapter. Grace can credit grace easily, understands the ways of the Lord, and disarms suspicion. "Who art thou, Lord?" The gospel goes forth elsewhere; it is in no way bound to Jerusalem. This was called Jacobus major--James the greater; that, minor--the less. He would do this after Easter, meta to pascha--after the passover, certainly so it ought to be read, for it is the same word that is always so rendered; and to insinuate the introducing of a gospel-feast, instead of the passover, when we have nothing in the New Testament of such a thing, is to mingle Judaism with our Christianity. In due time follows the further development of the truth as to Christ in testimony. They refused utterly the Holy Ghost's testimony to the Son of man glorified in heaven, and slew or scattered the witnesses, Who then was specially used as the instrument of the free action of the Holy Ghost elsewhere, without plan, without thought of man, and apparently the simple result of circumstances, but in truth God's hand directing all? Verse Acts 12:1. a. Herod the king: This was Herod Agrippa I, the . "And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. This is an essential feature of Christianity. But Peter just kept knocking: and so when they opened the door, they saw him, and they were astonished. The two things are both brought us in the gospel life brought to light, and the peace preached that was made by the blood of the cross. It was one concurrent evidence. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know." Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our personsbut they are helpless against our prayers. (J. Sidlow Baxter). Acts 12:23), and moved his headquarters to Jerusalem. Vincent says the word "vex" is used "in the older and stronger sense of torment or oppress rather than its modern usage of petty annoyances" (508). It appears that the scattered men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who had gone in consequence of the persecution everywhere, and among other places to Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews, took courage now and spoke (not to the Grecians - for this had been done long ago, but) unto the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus." Well, it's hard to run in a robe. So introducing you now to James, half brother to Jesus, who will now begin to take a more dominant role in the early church. Nevertheless, being a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, he seeks out and takes Saul to the apostles when others stood aloof, and declared unto them "how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus; and he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem." he would probably, without hesitation or difficulty, reply, that a Christian Church as it appears, for example, in St. Paul's epistles is a congregation or society of faithful men or believers, whose unseen faith in Christ is visibly manifested by their profession of certain fundamental doctrines, by the administration and reception of the two sacraments, and by the exercise of discipline. When they opened the door and saw him they were amazed. Acts 6:1-15; Acts 6:1-15 shows us the party in question murmuring. There was to be a testimony to an the nations. It was enough. How often our words show where we are! Question. Saul of Tarsus was yet breathing out his threats and slaughter when the Lord was pursuing His onward gracious work among the Samaritans and strangers. (1.) Saul of Tarsus prayed after his conversion (Acts 9:11), 7. Is not this interlacing after a divine sort? Szabadtri eskvk esetn: Van tet a fejnk felett, lehetsg es esetre? Stephen prayed as he was being stoned (Acts 7:5560) 5. We see that the Church had some short truce, that it might, as it were, by a short breathing, recover some courage against the time to come, and that it might then fight afresh. James and John were called by Jesus the sons of thunder. See Josephus, Antiq., book 19, chapter 5, section 1. These essential conditions of the existence of any regular society we find from the very first in being in the Church: the Apostles were the officers, and, collectively, the organ of the community; members were admitted into it by baptism; and they testified their continuance therein by participating in the sacrament of Christ's body and blood. "He preached in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Upon an agreed day Herod put on his royal robes and seated himself on a throne and made a speech to them. Scripture is clear and unequivocal as to the truth of the case. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and they passed through one street; and then the angel departed from him. There now broke out upon the Church, and especially upon its leaders, a new wave of persecution instigated by King Herod. Apologetic: Writes a defense of persecuted Christianity (Acts 13:6-12). WebActs 12:12 And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. Cornelius was not in ignorance of the gospel going out to the children of Israel, but it was precisely because he was a lowly-minded believer that he did not therefore arrogate the blessing to himself. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. All who are informed in these matters are aware that the best authorities reject the entire verse. Here comes the telling word for him that feared the Lord and bowed to His word, though he was a Gentile. But what is more to the purpose for us Gentiles, when Cornelius and his household were brought in, not only no appearance of it is visible, but positive proof to the contrary. There was the freest action of the Holy Ghost, sovereignly free, and it is impossible to maintain this too stringently; and there was the utmost care that all should be left open for the Holy Ghost to act according to His own will, not only within the church, but also by evangelizing outside. "To him give all the prophets witness." "Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God if, perhaps, the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." And it continues still. She strenuously insisted that it was so; but they kept saying, "It is his angel." The gift of the Spirit is not at all the same thing as the gifts. There followed also such signs, or outward powers; but the Holy Ghost was given Himself, according to the Lord's word the promise of the Father, a promise which, as all know, was in the first instance assured to those who were already believers, and which was made good to them because they were believers, not to make them so. 298, 299). But Herod was angry with them. For it must be remembered that, however far his profession may be from being a true one, every professor of Christianity professes to be a true, not a mere nominal, Christian. Saul was consenting unto Stephen's death, and Saul was the expression of Jewish feeling in its best aspect. See Luke 3:1; see also an account of the Herod family, see in Clarke's note on "Matthew 2:1". As a rule, a prisoner was chained, his right hand to the left hand of the guard. Why didn't God intervene and miraculously deliver James? He would direct attention to the fact, that the ordinary greeting of St. Paul, at the beginning of each epistle, is to the 'saints and faithful brethren' constituting the Church of such a place, fellow-heirs with himself of eternal life; and that throughout these compositions, the members of the Church are presumed to be in living union with Christ, reasonings and exhortations being addressed to them, the force of which cannot be supposed to be admitted, except by those who are led by the Spirit of God; in short, that the members of the Corinthian or the Ephesian Church are addressed as Christians; and a Christian is one who is in saving union with Christ.". 2. In fact, it is thought by some that the upper room was actually in the house of Mary the mother of Mark. It was plain enough to see the Christian assembly in a city, even if it were as numerous as in Jerusalem, where it must have met in not a few different localities and chambers. Preaching. There were four such squads because the day and the night were divided into four watches each of three hours duration; and each squad was on duty for three hours at a time. Herod accepted the praise as if he was God, and was punished for it (20-23). "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Reading: Acts 5:12-16 (NLT) The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. God answered prayer and gave a So far from it, as we shall find by and by inActs 10:1-48; Acts 10:1-48, the Holy Ghost was given while he was yet speaking, before they were so much as baptized. He was very interested in the Jewish customs and daily offered a sacrifice according to the Jewish law. And very ambitious surely he was to please the people who was willing thus to please them! "That word ye know," says Peter, "which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him . He had no official office. His was the first spirit that departed to be with Christ after the Holy Ghost was given. Sok felkrst kapok Gyr vrosbl, rendszerint eskv fnykpezs miatt, de szvesen fotzom ms tmban is. The returning treasurer of Queen Candace was a proselyte, I suppose, from the Gentiles, living among them, not as a Gentile himself, but practically a Jew, whatever the place of his birth and residence. The time for the call of the Gentiles strictly was not yet come, though the way is being prepared. There a large number had assembled together and were praying. As we are told here and the Spirit delights to give such an account "he was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.". Confidence in man, in self, was overthrown to its foundations all that his life had been zealously building up. 2. This Herod was not so courteous, that he would stick to win peace or the peoples favor with the punishment of an hundred men or more. As little could there be a question as to the grace exercised toward him, though the manner was not after that of man. They gained the ear of Blastus the king's chamberlain and sued for peace because their country was dependent for its sustenance on the king's territory. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) The previous gift of the Spirit without the intervention of any human hand was the most effectual stopper on the mouths of the brethren of the circumcision who were ever prone to object, and would surely have forbidden water, if God had not undeniably given them the unspeakable gift of the Spirit. But in the sense in which they supposed themselves to be Christians, do they, to all appearance, apply that title to those to whom they write" (pp. (Acts 10:1-48). It was the obliterating of mere fleshly distinction between Jew and Gentile. Prayer Points From The Book Of Acts Pray that God will bring the people of Israel to repentance (Acts 3:19). They had not those powers only, but this divine person given to them. When he had considered; better, with Meyer and Alford, when he perceived it, viz. To pray, pray for, offer prayer. But this manifestation and fruit of gracious power silenced even the unruly and hard spirits of the circumcision. WebPrayer. Of any typical or sacrificial element, St. Paul makes no mention: the whole service, with the exception of the Lord's Supper, was manifestly homiletic or verbal. In the East it would have been the natural thing for the next brother to take on the work of an elder brother who had been killed; but from the gospels we learn that Jesus' brothers did not believe in him ( John 7:5) and that they actually thought him mad ( Mark 3:21). So Peter was continuously guarded in prison. Herod in his pride taking to himself the honor due to God. A zene vegyes felhozatal volt egy kivl Dj-vel. . They felt in a measure, and justly, the tremendous deed that had been done. They served in three-hour shifts around the clock in guarding the prisoner. (750) In duces et capita animadverti solet, punishment is usually inflicted on the heads and captains. When they would gird themselves, and the purpose of it is they would wear these long robes kind of things. Hence people could not understand that it was one and the same church throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria. 50 Days Fasting & Prayer Guide for RCCG 2023 Fasting and Prayer. The reading of the Sinai MS. ( ) is a mere blunder, not uncommon in that most ancient but not very accurate document, arising from confusion through a contiguous word; it would give the sense of "unto the preachers, preaching the Lord Jesus." The Gentiles were sinners: why should they not dare to speak to the Gentiles? But Saul does arise from the earth. The answer is, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" See Luke 3:1. Little did the great apostle of the circumcision anticipate what was before him as he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. Power was what struck Simon's mind himself a devotee of power, who in times past had sunk indeed low, even to the enemy of God and man in order from any source to be the vessel of a power beyond man. He was the founder of Caesarea Philippi which was called after him. The church at Antioch fasted and prayed before sending out Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:13; and note 14:23), 12. A soul that now looks to Jesus ought to rest without question on redemption; but we must remember that at this time Jesus was not yet publicly preached to the Gentiles not yet freely and fully proclaimed according to the riches of grace. Lord, help me to think about some real answers toprayerI have had. Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. But they came to him with a common purpose. Now about that time,. That the famine was in Judea, and Saul and Barnabas were sent thither with what the church at Antioch had collected. To vex certain of the Church. Simon can only answer, "Pray ye to the Lord for me." Peter instructs them to go and tell the news to James. (Acts 12:5, AV) One With the apostles becoming more involved with matters outside Jerusalem, James the brother of Jesus was now the most prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13; Galatians 1:18-19; Galatians 2:9,Galatians 2:12). But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. On the fourteenth of Nissan they began the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and so it was during this Feast of Passover that Peter was arrested. After his death, the word of God prospers. Where they really didn't know if it was reality or just some spiritual revelation. Herod Agrippa was a direct descendant of the Maccabees, through his mother Mariamne. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had completed their errand of mercy. He was led of God. Thus on the great Gentile occasion, as before on the Jewish at Pentecost, the medium of man completely disappears. (2.) Or Mariam of Hebrew origin; Maria or Mariam, the name of six Christian females. Because He lives we God does not suggest a doubt of His own grace to them, or of the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice for them: unbelief does. Yet the Holy Ghost was given in especial power on that day. "And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." And he began to take a very strong role of leadership in the early church. This solemn act was not merely an ancient sign of divine blessing, but of identification also. Herod stretched forth his hand against the church and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. When Peter escaped he took his way straight to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Oh, what a blessing it is to have and know such a Saviour! Gird yourself up and tie on your sandals. Observe, The Jews made themselves guilty of the blood of James by showing themselves well pleased with it afterwards, though they had not excited Herod to it. Who that honours scripture can pretend that hands were laid on any then? Finally, after the call of Saul of Tarsus, Peter himself (as well for other reasons as in order to cut off the semblance of discord in the various instruments of His grace) is brought in to show the perfect balance of divine truth and the wonderful harmony of His ways. For it is not maintained that the first Christians, any more than those of our own day, were or could be perfect; and all that can be fairly gathered from what St. Paul says of the Corinthians is, that they were imperfect and inconsistent. Hoping to boost his approval ratings even further, Herod had Peter arrested also (v. 3). A Christian society which should openly profess to dispense with discipline, and tolerate on principle open and notorious evil doers [or still worse heretics, Antichrists, or their abettors] within its pale, would thereby renounce its title to one of the essential attributes of the Church; it would sever all ostensible connection between itself and the true Church [or rather Christ and His sacrifice: see1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ], of which sanctity is an inseparable property; in short, it would unchurch itself.