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Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. This can't be real; it's just a dream. 14 When she recognized Peters voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and The, the definite article. "Christianity, as it appears in the New Testament, knows nothing of the atomistic theory of modern independentism. At the passover, when the Jews came from all parts to Jerusalem to keep the feast, they irritated one another against the Christians and Christianity, and were then more violent than at other times. (These were the days of unleavened bread). 378.) If you "And he arose and went." The word in the Greek is Passover after the time of unleavened bread. And it says that they have power to call down fire from heaven. A Christian society which should openly profess to dispense with discipline, and tolerate on principle open and notorious evil doers [or still worse heretics, Antichrists, or their abettors] within its pale, would thereby renounce its title to one of the essential attributes of the Church; it would sever all ostensible connection between itself and the true Church [or rather Christ and His sacrifice: see1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ], of which sanctity is an inseparable property; in short, it would unchurch itself. Continually he tried to encourage his fellow Jews to be more tolerant of others (Acts 15:13,Acts 15:19). Where they really didn't know if it was reality or just some spiritual revelation. . Herod may have won the appreciation of the Jews, but he has lost any respect he may have had in the eyes of God. "The Church of Christ was not properly in existence before the day of Pentecost; much less did she, before that era, go forth on her mission to evangelize* the world. The latter is, unquestionably, the ground which he takes" (pp. There is this difference, no doubt, between such cases now and that of Cornelius then, that, before the mission of Peter, it would have been presumptuous for a Gentile to have pretended to salvation; now it is the fruit of unbelief for a believer to question it. Acts 11:18), Herod took advantage of an opportunity to please his subjects by mistreating some believers and by executing the Apostle James, the brother of John (cf. I quote from the original edition (Edinburgh, 1807): "Acts 11: 31. Designed by, INVERSORES! 0UR hearts are thrilled by the remarkable deliverance of Peter from prison, recorded in Acts. Yet his masculine good sense held to the truth, though he did not know the solid basis on which it here stands. Akkor j helyen jrsz, csak kattints a weboldalra s nzz krbe. The governor at that time, Herod Agrippa I (a grandson of Herod the Great), knew it was not wise to let the Jews become too excited. And, both. She was a direct descendant of the Maccabeans, which made her a Jewess, but she was married to Herod the Great and so Herod Agrippa I was sort of half Jewish in a sense. At the same time, along with this is seen universality in the going out of both the truth and grace of God, which could not but be foreign to the law. But they said unto her, [You're crazy.] There was special exposure to this evil which called for so much the greater guard against it at Samaria. Supplicate, worship. so gross was his darkness even as to the general point of the chapter. "Nor is there any weight in the objection that many of these primitive Churches were very defective in doctrine or in, practice, or in both; that St. Paul speaks of the Corinthians as being, on account of their divisions, 'carnal,' and not 'spiritual,' as 'babes in Christ,' and sharply reproves them for their laxity of discipline in the case of the incestuous person, and their want of discipline in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. They went out and proceeded along one street; and thereupon the angel left him. He would make a spectacle of him. "It has already been remarked that, far from intending to establish a mere invisible fellowship of the Spirit, our Lord contemplated His Church as having a visible existence, His followers as collected into societies [that society called the Church or assembly of God]. Legtbb ismersm s jmagam is egy ltszlag teljesen idegen szakterletrl rkeztnk. He was led into no small perplexity by the reading current in his day, and, to the shame of Christendom, still tolerated as the received reading. The gospel of Luke also describes what is similar; that is to say, a faith not insincere but human, not wrought of the Spirit but founded on the mind yielding to reasons, proofs, evidences, which are to it overpowering; but there is nothing of God in it: there is no meeting between the soul and God. II. God had published it already to the sons of Israel, and the good man rejoiced in it. God would cut off the very appearance of this. And God has, in the meantime, a work for me to do, and until I have accomplished that work that God has in mind for me to do, God's going to preserve me and keep me until that day. One of the chief means was prayer, 1. After his death, the word of God prospers. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also. And he realized that God had delivered him from the hand of Herod. He wished to gain fresh influence, not to lose his old: why not, by this new method, if possible, turn things to his own account? And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. Yet it is likely that he did shed innocent blood, that, according to the common craft of kings, he might gratify a furious people; because St. Luke will shortly after declare that Peter the apostle was put into prison that he might be a pleasant spectacle. The word of God increased and was multiplied. Evidently the authorities remembered the last time Peter had been arrested, and how he had mysteriously escaped from jail. Did he not feel so much the more settled in Jesus as there was no other object now before his soul? Pray and say: Father, here am I, take me and use me. Evidently it was power in external display, then so richly manifested, which acted on the fleshly mind of Simon, himself having the reputation of a great one, and before this the vessel of some kind of demoniacal power the miserable power of Satan, with which he dazzled the eyes of men. He did so. The word "Grecians" does not mean "Greeks," but rather Greek-speaking Jews; to whom the gospel had been preached long before, as the cases of Stephen, for instance, and Philip clearly testify. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Ha csak nem kritek kln, nem viszlek titeket msok ltal annyira kedvelt s elcspelt macskakves tra, ahol ti lenntek az ezredikek, akik ilyen fotval bszklkednek. Jehovah's house had been left doubly desolate; Jerusalem had this added to her other sins that, when the blessing had come down from heaven, she would not have it. It is of interest to see, and should be better known, that among the Gentiles were not wanting such as worshipped no idols but served the true and living God. No doubt their spiritual condition was defective, and their outward position must have seemed anomalous; but Scripture is decisive that such godly Gentiles there were. Nevertheless, care was taken to hinder all appearance of independence or indifference to unity. Rengeteg kivl tterem alkalmas a nagy nap lebonyoltsra. When he saw that this gave pleasure to the Jews he went to arrest Peter too. But he was intending to bring him forth for judgment and, of course, for execution at the end of the Passover period. Was his faith nothing more than a profession of Christian doctrine? His grandfather was the Herod who had the babies of Bethlehem slaughtered in hopes he would destroy the baby Jesus. Now when Peter was come to himself, he said, I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews ( Acts 12:10-11 ). Conscience would have been searched by the truth of God; and the heart would have been filled with praise at the grace of God. Prayers Against The Spirit Of Backwardness 17. In verse five we read that prayer was made: To God - the aim. He killed James. God knows exactly the day and the circumstances by which He's going to take me home. Web12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. The Church neither preaches nor teaches, but Christ sends those who evangelize the world and teach the Church. James the brother of John has been put to death by Herod. Peter prayed before he raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:3643), 8. God answered prayer and gave a That is, to destroy its chief ornaments and supports. (EntityRef: expecting ';' at line 50, column 103) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230 If this took place in A.D. 46, and Herod died in A.D. 44, then the event Luke related in chapter 12 antedated the famine visit, and probably all of Acts 11:27-30, by about two years. He was not only (as Herod Antipas was) tetrarch of Galilee, but had also the government of Judea committed to him by Claudius the emperor, and resided most at Jerusalem, where he was at this time. I will not pretend to say that it cost him little, but am sure it would have been a heavy trial to many a man of God to leave that which was so bright, where He had wrought powerfully in using himself for His own glory. Historical: Records the historical spread of the Gospel (Acts 1:2). But Peter waited there knocking. Quite right: only the true text delivers from the need of wresting the force of a word, and is as simply as possible Greeks, not Grecians, and means Gentiles without the smallest difficulty or discussion. Jerusalem passes as the center of the church's activity and now moves to Antioch, and all of the missionary activity in taking the Gospel into all of the world centers out of the church in Antioch. Israel had the truth presented to them as it was afterwards to all. As a rule, a prisoner was chained, his right hand to the left hand of the guard. They felt in a measure, and justly, the tremendous deed that had been done. But what I want to press for our profit, beloved brethren, is that at any rate he who is the object of grace can afford to be gracious. Cornelius was not in ignorance of the gospel going out to the children of Israel, but it was precisely because he was a lowly-minded believer that he did not therefore arrogate the blessing to himself. So then these people succeeded in gaining the ear of Blastus, the king's chamberlain, and in due course a public session was arranged. And he departed, and went into another place ( Acts 12:17 ). (Ephesians 4:1-32) I merely make the remark in passing; though it will not be needed for most here, it may be for some. . To gather together, assemble. "All that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord." The Gentiles were sinners: why should they not dare to speak to the Gentiles? Acts 7:54-60). The Passover Feast was on 14th Nisan; for that day and the seven following no leaven must be used and the week was called the days of unleavened bread. The importance of closer attention to the text is well shown by Calvin's remarks on this verse. There were several illegal aspects of the trial of Jesus Christ. From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family. From sun and athroizo; to convene. It is the message of life, but it is also the means of peace. It would be a mistake to suppose that God had not wrought on the heart of Gentiles. For these reasons he was popular with the people; and it was no doubt in order to achieve further popularity with the orthodox Jews that he decided to attack the Christian Church and its leaders. But it would seem that special reasons operated at Samaria to make it necessary there. My object, of course, is simply to give a sketch of the important book now before us, endeavouring to connect (as, indeed, evidently the chapter does connect) what was coming with what was past. Surely it was true of all who really believed and knew His glory. He would have Saul to return good for what I may venture to call a measure of evil towards him. Moreover, in these chapters the Church of Christ is first spoken of as in actual existence. The spiritual power which wrought so wonderful a change in the Apostles must first descend from heaven, and give to the Church its inner form as its spiritual characteristic! A body of believers indeed had been by Christ gathered out of the Jewish people to be the first recipients of the Pentecostal effusion; but before that event, this body could not be called distinctively His Church. He killed James, John's brother, with the sword. If God had given them the Holy Ghost, as was manifest in sensible results, it was very evident that they must have by God's grace had repentance unto life. Herod laid hands upon some of the church to afflict them, so some read it; he employed his officers to seize them, and take them into custody, in order to their being prosecuted. intending after Easter [or really after Passover] to bring him forth to the people. Scripture does show, though it does not sanction as divine, a faith that is founded on evidence. How all-important for our souls that we should have Christ before us, and that we should have no desire but for His glory! The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. Nevertheless the God that vindicated the honour of the crucified Jesus did not forget the martyred Stephen; and though there was an outburst of persecution, which scattered abroad throughout the region of Judea and Samaria all the believers that were in Jerusalem except the apostles, devout men were not wanting who carried Stephen to his burial. All was ordered of God. Herod the king This was Herod Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, and grandson of Herod the Great; he was nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John they Baptist, and brother to Herodias. (i) Herod Philip the First. On this occasion they of the circumcision see that the Gentiles receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for they hear them speak with tongues and magnify God, and they were astonished. Those to whom they addressed themselves were really Gentiles. Prayer was a normal part of their daily ministry (Acts 2:4247; 3:1; 6:4), 4. It was not without the deepest searching of heart, though smitten down at once; for how could there be a question as to the divine power? To vex certain of the Church. Josephus doth no where call him Herod, it may be, because he had a brother who was king of Chalcis, whose name was Herod. Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Stretched forth his hands - A figurative expression, denoting that he laid his hands on them, or that he endeavored violently to oppress the church.. "Always when you get ready to run, get ready to fight, or get ready to work, you would gird yourself up or get ready to serve. Pray we hate evil and cling to what is good (12:9). Paul and Barnabas had fulfilled their errand of mercy to the Church at Jerusalem and so returned to Antioch, taking with them John Mark. But before Aristopollis was murdered, he had this son Herod Agrippa. And so he did ( Acts 12:4-8 ). Take, as the most solemn moment of all, the day of Pentecost. Even now, although it is the gospel that God sends out, we know well how many, through a misuse of Old Testament teaching, plunge themselves into distress and doubt. Prayers To Cancel Bad Dreams 18. Undoubtedly the cruelty of this mad man was restrained and bridled by the secret power of God. 5. 407-8, for a brief biography of Herod Agrippa I.] Another thing too let me again and again remark: the gift of the Holy Ghost never means those mighty wonders of power which had acted on the greedy and ambitious mind of Simon Magus. For courage to witness for Christ (Acts 4:2331), 3. That monarch had succeeded in putting together the whole domain of his grandfather Herod the Great, and had also been given the title of king by Claudius. To the argument drawn from the use of similar terms under the Mosaic covenant in a merely national and external sense to prove that they mean the same, and nothing more, under the gospel., our author answers, "Here, in fact, is the real source of the error. Cornelius prayed that God would show him how to be saved (Acts 10:14), 9. Jesus was talking about His death and Jesus said, "Ye shall indeed be baptized with the baptism wherein I was baptized: but to grant to you to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is something really that isn't really in my jurisdiction, that is given to the Father" ( Matthew 20:23 ). The exercise of discipline is the true and legitimate expression of the sanctity of a visible Church considered as a society. It was not a question of being saved in the day of judgment; nor is this the meaning of the term "salvation" in the New Testament. Sokan ember a kt tans polgri hzassgkts mellett lagzit is szeretne, aholezt az rmteli esemnyt a bartaik s rokonaik trsasgban kzsen megnnepelhetik s egyttreznek velk. It was even, and urgently, pressed on them, but they refused with disdain the message, and rejected the messengers to blood. Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans (Acts 8:1417), 6. This solemn act was not merely an ancient sign of divine blessing, but of identification also. *The copyists of old seem to have confounded in writing, as the Latin and most other ancient translators did in rendering, (Greeks) and (Hellenists), here and elsewhere. We see that the Church had some short truce, that it might, as it were, by a short breathing, recover some courage against the time to come, and that it might then fight afresh. . We are told of another who also built for the Jews their synagogue.