MONDAY June 5, 2023
Seized and Arrested
And because he [Herod] saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Acts 12:3-4
As we take another look at the persecution happening against the Church, we see that Herod Agrippa was a type of Satan. He had a cruel hatred for Christians. Herod had heard that the Apostles were preaching in the name of Jesus Christ, and as people’s lives were changed, their popularity grew.
Herod craved popularity. He wanted that kind of recognition and favor himself. When he killed James and saw that it pleased the Jews, he befriended them. They boosted his ego. You may think what happened to James was not fair, but God was in control. His time on earth was up! God had decided to bring James home.
In the center of persecution, without fear, Peter continued to preach the Gospel. He knew he was in the perfect will of God, and he also knew that at some time in his life, events would lead to his death, as shared to him by the Lord (John 21:18-19). Peter would be crucified upside down––but this was not his time to die.
When Herod saw that killing James pleased the people, he continued to seize Peter––the Church leader! Peter was arrested and placed in prison, but they could not prosecute him until after the Passover. Roman soldiers watched over Peter so there was no escape. He was chained to two soldiers, and another two stood guard, while the rest were up upon the barracks.
Again, when God allows trials to happen to us, He has a purpose and a plan for everything we go through. He knows the bigger picture. Whatever your circumstances are today, know God is with you. Have faith in Him.
Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
