THE TWO RESULTS OF PETER'S ESCAPE

Acts 12:18-19 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Beginning with verse 12 we find Peter giving deep, thankful consideration for the miraculous intervention of God, who, by sending His angel, delivered him from, what appeared to be, sure death at the hand of Herod Agrippa in order to please the unrepentant Jews of Jerusalem. Being freed from the bondage of imprisonment, Peter came to the house of Mary. It seems that it was in her home that the members of the New Testament church of Christ had gathered together and where prayer was made without ceasing ...unto God (Verse 5), that Peter's life would be spared. This woman named Mary, was also a relative of Barnabas. Mary, being the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, was also a relative of Barnabas, which explains the close relationship between Barnabas and John Mark (See Col 4:10).

The first result of Peter's escape from prison and certain death, was the disbelief and sheer joy of the Christians of Jerusalem that he was alive and had returned to them. The events leading to this jubilation seem rather comical. Beginning with verse 13, we find Peter coming to the home of Mary. He knocked at the door of the gate, and a women by the name of Rhoda, came to answer. She recognized Peter, but instead of letting him enter the home, she was so amazed that she turned and ran into the house and told all that were present that Peter was standing at the gate. Hearing her, but in disbelief, they said unto her, Thou art mad. When Rhoda continued to confirm that Peter was, indeed, standing at the gate, those that were present, still believing Peter had been slain, insisted that the figure she had seen could only be the spiritual, angelic being representing Peter.

Peter, still left standing at the gate, continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished - they were amazed beyond belief. But Peter assured this overjoyed group of Christians that he was still alive and well by explaining unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. In order that the entire membership of the church of Christ in Jerusalem would know of Peter's safe escape from prison, he told them to go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. Having knowledge that James, the brother of John and an apostle of Christ, had just been slain by the sword of Herod, most bible scholars agree that the James, referred to here, was the brother of Jesus and a leader of the church of Christ in Jerusalem. This is the same James as referred to in Galatians 2:9, who, along with Peter and John, were referred to as pillars of faith in the Jerusalem church. And having notified all Christians of this congregation of God's people of his safety, Peter departed, and went into another place.

The second result of Peter's escape is noted in the lesson text. As soon as daylight came to Jerusalem on this eventful day, the guards became aware that their prisoner, entrusted to their care by Herod Agrippa, could not be found. Then a great stir among these soldiers began. They became extremely emotional and anxiously upset about the possible results of the dereliction of their duty and responsibility as prison guards by allowing the escape of their prisoner, Peter. The consequences that brought on their anguish was soon realized. As soon as Herod called for Peter, and found him not, he examined the keepers. This means that Herod questioned these soldiers and found them guilty of the total neglect of duty as prison guards. Without knowledge of God's intervention that lead Peter to safety, Herod deemed these soldiers guilty of this charge, and he, as required by Roman law,commanded that they should be put to death.

And having sought for Peter without finding him, and having completed the execution of the neglectful soldiers, Herod, probably filled with a disappointed rage at his inability to please the desires of the Jewish people, went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode. With this intervention of God these two opposing events resulted from Peter's escape from prison, both of which served to protect and sustain the New Testament church of Christ in Jerusalem. The salvation, offered by God through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, and which is made available only to those found his church, had been threatened by zealous Jewish opposition. But by the miraculous will of God, His promise of eternal salvation to the world was protected and sustained.