Acts, 12
1. It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church.
1. It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church.
Acts of the Apostles 12 reports the arrest of Peter and his subsequent supernatural liberation by the angels of God. Also mentioned is the death of James, John's brother, at the hands of Herod. The selected verses are:
Isaiah 43:2: "When I pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when through the rivers they will not submerge you; when you pass through fire, you will not burn you, nor the flame will burn in you." Peter went through a moment of great danger and anguish as he was arrested and placed in prison, but the Lord was with him, protecting him from Herod's wrath.
Psalm 34:19: "There are many afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from all." Peter was a fair man who was unjustly arrested. However, the Lord delivered him from Herod's hands and freed him from prison.
Proverbs 21:1: "The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord as deep waters; He tilts it wherever you want." Herod was determined to kill Peter, but God had other plans. He used an angel to free him from prison and frustrate the king's plans.
John 16:33: "In the world, you will have afflictions; but it tends good courage; I have overcome the world." James' death and Peter's arrest are examples of the afflictions that the disciples of Jesus faced. However, Jesus gave them the promise that they would have peace in the midst of tribulations, for he had won the world.
Acts of the Apostles 12:24: "But the Word of God grew and multiplied." Despite persecution and attempts to silence the Gospel message, God's Word continued to spread and reach more people. Peter's arrest and James' death failed to stop the advance of the Kingdom of God.
“Deus não opera prodígios onde não há fé.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
