Acts 12

“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” (v2). Like Jesus Himself, the early believers quickly found themselves threatened by society’s authorities, both Jewish and Roman.  Their power was real, as James’ death demonstrated, and yet it was limited.  Peter was miraculously released from prison by an angel so that he could continue to testify about Jesus, while Herod himself died tragically, despite the crowd’s adoring praise (v22).

“But the word of God increased and multiplied” (v24). In our answered prayers and in our defeats and pain, Jesus wants to make Himself known to us and through us to the world.