With a Subtitle: How Herod's rage after Peter's escape exposes the sin ruling every human heart

A brief Excerpt: After Peter's miraculous jailbreak, Herod executed the guards and fled to Caesarea. Yet God used that persecution to multiply His word—a reminder that the same pride and self-rule still tempt our hearts today.

The Author is: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 12:19, “And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.”

Background

I don’t know how much truth there is to the adage that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, especially in light of the spiritual truth that we all are corrupt and bad at our very core. But the violence carried out on the guards after Peter’s miraculous escape from jail is an expression on multiple levels of the lostness of man and the need for Christ and His church. Every single one of us has been angered or wounded in some way and in turn been bent on exacting some form of retribution for the hurt we suffered. But worse, we have lashed out in some way at those who were innocent when the guilty party is momentarily beyond our reach. Our loved ones know this all too well, as might any who are in the room at the unfortunate time. On a grander scale, what Herod did after he couldn’t find Peter epitomizes the effects on our society when God’s church is targeted. As you recall, scripture clearly stated before Herod killed James and imprisoned Peter that he intentionally sought to harass some from the church. And even though the innocent evangelists suffered, something more happened. While Herod relocated to Caesarea, disrupting the structure of authority and creating doubt and uncertainty in his subjects as to the government’s role, scripture also tells us that the word of God grew and multiplied.

Application

As man and his leaders sought to snuff out the very presence of the God who intended to save them, God used that persecution in His master plan to redeem the elect. He desired to save Agrippas, who suffered from an overblown sense of importance and power, because that’s what you and I are. The only difference is our domain is not quite as large as his was. And even if it reaches no further than our own skin, we still rule it with selfishness and pride and self-reliance. Imagine what our land would look like if it were left to you or me and our unredeemed hearts to rule it. So, Herod leaves for us another call to not let sin have its way with us. Though it knocks on the door and strives for power over us, we have our Lord sitting on our heart’s throne. Renew your allegiance to Him who already died for you.

Charge

As we seek Him today, exchange your power for peace.