The Story

When Peter came back to Jerusalem he had a most interesting account to give of his experience at Joppa and Caesarea. What did he have to tell? Some of the disciples contended with him. They thought that he had done wrong in going into the house of a Gentile and in receiving Gentile people into the Christian company. Peter told them about his vision and about his visit in Caesarea, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his family, and they felt that it was the Lord's will.

And now a new trouble came upon the disciples in Jerusalem. James, the brother of John, one of the Lord's twelve apostles, had been killed, and Peter was in prison. In the prison he was guarded by four soldiers. He slept between two soldiers, his hand on either side being chained to the hand of a soldier. Two other soldiers guarded the door. But read what happened. (Acts 12: 5-10) Some of you have a picture of Peter being led by the angel out of prison.

When Peter found that he was really free he went to the house where he knew that Christian brethren were gathered in prayer for his safety. Read about his coming to the house and the opening of the door to him. He told what had happened. Soon he went away from Jerusalem. (Acts 12:11-17) This release of Peter was a new sign of the Lord's care for His disciples, and "the word of God grew and multiplied."

Junior

In Acts 11 we read of Peter's return to Jerusalem to tell of his experience at Joppa and Caesarea. Why did some "contend" with Peter about it? (Verse 2) Note in verse 26, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." You find Antioch to the north of Palestine, an important city. The name Christian was no doubt first applied, by others, and probably at first in scorn. Acts 12 tells of new trouble for the disciples in Jerusalem. The priests and leaders of the Jews had tried to stop their preaching and had failed. Their work prospered, and the company of disciples kept on growing. Now trouble and persecution came from "Herod the king." This was not the Herod who was king in Jerusalem when the wise men came seeking for the Lord, but a grandson of that king, Herod Agrippa I. He had powerful friends in Rome and ruled all Palestine for three years with the title of king, living some in Jerusalem but more in Caesarea. He was friendly to the Jews and their religion, and to please them he was against the Christian disciples. Finding that the killing of James pleased the Jews, he planned also to kill Peter when the celebration of the Passover and Easter should be over. "Four quaternions" in verse 4 means sixteen soldiers who guarded the prisoner four at a time, each quaternion for six hours. Peter slept between two soldiers, chained to one on either side, and two soldiers kept the door. Read the account of the release (verses 1-10). The home where Peter found the disciples gathered praying for him, was evidently a familiar meeting place. John, whose surname was Mark (verse 12) is one whom we hear more of in the Acts, and we know him as the writer of Mark's Gospel. James (verse 17) known as "brother of the Lord," was prominent among the disciples and was soon recognized as leader of the Church in Jerusalem.

The chapter tells also of the sudden death of Herod, which was recognized as punishment for his irreverence. On a state day in Caesarea he arrayed himself in a magnificent glittering silver robe and spoke to the people. Some flatterers suggested that he was more than human, and he did not rebuke them. The chapter shows how the Lord was protecting His disciples, not only from persecution by religious leaders, but from persecution by civil powers.

Deeper Study

Intermediate

Watch the growing conviction with the disciples that Gentiles could become Christians without first conforming to the Jewish law. Peter himself at first doubted and must be prepared for his visit to Cornelius. We see the same reluctance in the brethren in Jerusalem, who argued with Peter for what he had done. The same chapter reports the same doubt among the brethren in Jerusalem in regard to the reception of many Gentile converts in Antioch, and they sent Barnabas to examine the situation. See a further consideration and decision of the subject in Acts 15. The question comes before the Church presently in a larger way in connection with Paul's conversion of Gentiles to Christianity. Paul's conviction that the Christian gospel is for all is made clear in Romans 10:12-13. It should be clear to us what Paul means by teaching that Gentiles are "justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28-31) He means that Gentiles can become Christians without assuming first obedience to the Jewish law. Paul always strongly taught the need for good life and charity. (Romans 2:6, 13; 1 Corinthians 13) Swedenborg recognized and all careful readers of Paul recognize that it was an utter misunderstanding of Paul's meaning to think that he taught salvation by faith alone, without good life. (R. 417, 675) Read again Romans 3:28-31 and make sure that you understand Paul's meaning.

We learned in Acts 4:17-20; 5:40-42, of the opposition of leaders of the Jews to the Christian disciples and their effort to stop their preaching. Now Acts 12 tells of persecution from civil powers. The Lord had foretold opposition from both sources. (Matthew 10:17-18) He was Himself condemned by the priests and by Pilate. There is in us hostility to the Lord both spiritual and worldly, to meet and overcome. In all these conflicts the Lord promises His help.

Imprisonment was among the persecutions which the Lord told the disciples that they would suffer, but He would be with them and protect them. "There shall not a hair of your head perish. In your patience you shall win your souls." (Luke 21:12-19) The release of Peter from prison was strong proof of the remembrance and safe-keeping of the Lord. We shall read also of the deliverance from prison of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:19-40. The persecutions predicted by the Lord were also spiritual persecutions, which all suffer from evil and selfishness in themselves. Spiritual imprisonment is the restriction and oppression of life arising from false hard thoughts and prejudices which we cherish toward other people. The Lord charged us to be well-minded toward others, or we shall build prison walls about ourselves from which there is no escape except by complete repentance. (Matthew 5:25, 26) From this more serious imprisonment of the soul we need deliverance by the Lord's help. May we find this help and enjoy the freedom of kind feeling and true thought! It is among the blessings which the Lord came into the world to bring. (Luke 4:19; A. 5096, 4956)

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