Tamil Christian Message - ACTS 12 of 28 - Voice of the Martyrs - Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams
Channel: Tamil Christian Sound Doctrine Resources-King of King's Christ Jesus Vision Inscribed InTouch
Date: 2013-07-02

Tamil Christian Message - ACTS 12 of 28 - Voice of the Martyrs - Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams
James is killed and Peter is imprisoned - The narrative of Herod's opposition and demise can help Christians face political opposition with discerning confidence and lets the inquiring unbeliever know that the state cannot stop the church in its mission. A King Attacks (12:1-4)
The martyrdom of James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John (Luke 5:10; 8:51; 9:28), is an especially heavy blow to the church. Only some ten years after Jesus' resurrection/exaltation, one of the twelve apostles has been removed from the scene. To make matters worse, Herod seems bent on a systematic dismemberment of the movement, for next he arrests Peter. He places him under a secure guard of four squads of four soldiers each, rotating in three-hour shifts at night (Vegetius De Re Militari 3.8). Ever scrupulous in his Jewish observance, and possibly wishing to avoid an uproar at festival time (compare Mk 14:2), Herod leaves Peter in prison during the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed Passover.
Luke teaches us that Satan's sphere of control is directly related to political governance (Lk 4:6; 22:53). Jesus warned that its power would be used against his followers (Lk 12:11-12; 21:12-19). Will we stand for Jesus as our Lord, realizing that sooner or later we will pay the price for doing so? Those who have lived in religious freedom for generations have much to learn from brothers and sisters in Christ just now emerging from the oppression of totalitarianism. The Lord Delivers (12:5-11)
Luke skillfully juxtaposes the power of the state--so Peter was kept in prison--and the power of the church, prayer--but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. In continuous (the verb construction indicates duration), fervent (Lk 22:44; 1 Pet 1:22; 4:8), united prayer, the church intercedes for Peter. Prayer is the only weapon it has, but it is more than enough. Luke presents prayer as "the natural atmosphere of God's people and the normal context for divine activity" (Longenecker 1981:409; Acts 1:14, 24; 2:42; 6:4; 13:2). If extended, fervent, united prayer is not a church's first resort in a time of crisis, the church reveals that it is ultimately depending on something or someone other than God.
As if to test the church's faith to the limit and emphasize his consummate power over his enemies, the Lord waits to act until the eve of Peter's show trial and probable summary execution. By his sleep Peter models a deep trust in God's sovereignty (Ps 3:5; Lk 8:23). Herod takes extra security measures, for normally one chain was enough (Seneca Epistles 5.7; compare Herod's own experience as recounted in Josephus Jewish Antiquities 18.195-96; Williams 1985:200 disagrees and sees the two chains as normal security precautions); thus he betrays his inherent insecurity in the face of this movement (Acts 5:19-26).
The Lord's deliverance is complete. With this rescue from the king's attack, the church remains unscathed. So today, even when there are changes in personnel, God will superintend the healthy advance of his church. The Persecutors Are Defeated (12:18-23)
Commentary is adopted from www.biblegateway.com
"JOYFUL JOURNEY WITH GOD IS INITIATED AND IGNITED IN LORD JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT"
Title song and audio is adopted from
http://www.tamilchristian.com/index.php/portable-device/message/theodore-williams
Recorded by Sony MP3 player edited by using audacity free software 
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and made movie by using windows movie maker 
More Messages of Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams is available freely in
http://www.tamilchristian.com/index.php/portable-device/message/theodore-williams
ACTS, Holy Spirit, Messages from the book of Philippians and Revelation Bible Study 
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 
Only what's done for Christ will last. 
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be, 
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee."- C.T Studd
A small note about Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams:
http://spiritualwhip.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/dr-theodore-williams-a-example-to-modern-generation/
Passing the sound doctrine to the upcoming new generations
When you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. James 4:8 
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