In Acts 12, King Herod arrested James and had him put to death. This pleased the people, so Herod arrested Peter and was going to have him put to death as well. The night before Herod was to have Peter executed, an angel appeared to Peter and the chains with which he was bound fell off him. The soldiers with him slept as Peter got dressed and left the prison, whose gates opened as he walked out. When this had all happened, Peter found himself in the street and realized it had all taken place. He had thought it was a dream. He returned to the house of John Mark and was welcomed with great rejoicing.
At the close of the chapter, we’re told of King Herod’s death. The king went to Caesarea to address some matters of dispute and gave a speech which was acclaimed by the people. They said his voice was that of a god and not a human being. As a result of his not correcting this error, the LORD struck him dead. While the account sounds hard to believe, we have seen throughout the Book of Acts that powerful things for good and for harm took place as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work. When I say powerful things for “harm,” I mean the harm of those who seek to deny God’s presence and power, and the work of His Spirit. Ananias and Sapphira were examples in Acts 5, and now King Herod is the example in Acts 12.
In Acts 13, we read of Saul (Paul) and Barnabas and several others meeting in Antioch for a time of worship, prayer, and fasting. In the midst of it, the Holy Spirit selected Saul and Barnabas to go out in mission. As they travelled, they followed the same strategy wherever they went: they went to the synagogue first and shared the good news there. If, and usually when, it was rejected, they went to the Gentiles. They faced challenge and persecution from the Jews. They offered signs, wonders, and the powerful testimony of Jesus’ salvation. Their work was always challenged, and always fruitful!
As we return to Matthew 5, we return to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This collection of Jesus’ teaching covers Matthew 5-7, and is the most extensive section of teaching in the four gospels. Jesus offered the beatitudes, the image of His followers being salt and light, a number of teachings that showed His power to add to the Law of Moses, including teachings on murder, lust, divorce, and vows. He also spoke about the importance of loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. Matthew 5 ends with Jesus’ admonition for us to be “perfect” even as our Father in heaven is “perfect.” Of course, none of us can fulfill this command apart from the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. The folks who heard the message as Jesus presented it, must have been overwhelmed at the high expectations He placed on them. Only after He died and rose again from the dead, returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit would any be able to be consistent in fulfilling the teachings presented here.