When Herod saw that the killing of James pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter with the intention of killing him also.  God's chosen people, the Jews, not for the first time, failed to understand God's plan.  Herod saw only what made him popular.  When the lost of the world and those who call themselves God's people begin working for the same purpose, the real followers of Christ suffer.  Peter was arrested and placed in prison under a heavy guard.  Herod intended to bring him to the people after Easter. While Herod made his plans, the believers didn't storm the jail.  They prayed.  I don't think they were thinking all we can do is pray.  I think they believed that prayer would actually change things.  When did they pray?  Without ceasing.  The night before Herod would have brought Peter forth, prayers were answered.  I am not sure how many days Peter was in prison, but I am sure Herod intended to keep him there until he was ready to let him out.  Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two guards, with a guard at the door.  If we had been in Peter's position, would we have been sleeping?  I sometimes hear people, even Christians, say they couldn't sleep because things were just so bad.  Our faith should give us peace beyond our circumstances.  Peter could have spent the night pacing, plotting, and questioning or blaming God.  I believe he slept because he had truly given his life to God.  The answer to prayers was an angel who came to free Peter.  Light shined in the prison, but the angel had to wake Peter.  Peter was told to rise and the chains fell off.  He was told to get dressed and follow the angel.  Peter thought he was having a vision, but he still obeyed.  They passed the first and second ward and went out the iron gate, which opened of its own accord.  Herod had done everything he could to ensure that Peter was imprisoned, but he failed.  No matter how bleak things look to us, God will always provide a way for us to do what he asks us to do.  After he was outside the prison and the angel had departed, Peter realized it wasn't a vision.  He was free.  Prayers were answered, and Peter was free without anyone storming the prison.  We today need to truly understand the power of prayer.  When everything in the world looks bleak, we need to rest in the peace of God, not despair at the insanity of the world.  Above all else, we need to pray believing.

Acts 12:1

Acts 12:1 says, Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.  Verse two adds, And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  Herod decided to vex certain of the church, and killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.  Physical needs were not being met, religious leaders were opposing them, and now the government was killing the followers of Christ, His church.  So, we think things are bad today?  I hear people say, "I'd like to preach like Peter and write like Paul," but I never hear, "I'd like to die like Stephen or James."  Maybe if we gave all as Stephen and James did, and also Peter and Paul did, God could accomplish as much through us.  Verse three continues, And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)  When Herod saw that it pleased people that he had killed James, he proceeded to take Peter.  He was willing to do anything to increase his popularity, and there are people today who will do anything they can to harm the church if it makes them more popular.  Verse four states, And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.  Herod had Peter put in prison under a very large guard.  His intention was to bring him to the people after Easter.  The people would have been the Jews, God’s chosen people, who were now working against Him.  As Christians, we should never be guilty of doing anything that works against God and the spreading of the Gospel.  Verse five adds, Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.  While Peter was in prison, his fellow believers were praying to God for him without ceasing. They weren’t making plans to storm the prison but were praying for him instead.  Our greatest weapon against evil in the world today is sincere prayer to God,  Verse six continues, And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.  The night before Herod would have brought Peter to the people, he was sleeping between two guards, bound with two chains, and had the keepers of the prison at the door.  Herod was taking no chances in securing Peter.  No matter how hard people may try, they cannot contain God’s word and work as long as those doing it are faithfully doing so.  Verse seven declares, And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.  While Peter was sleeping, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shined in the prison.  This was something Herod had not planned for.  The angel hit Peter on the side and told him to get up quickly and the chains fell off.  When God is ready to do a great work in our life, we need to be awake and ready to act.  Verse eight adds, And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.  The angel basically told Peter to get dressed, get his shoes on, and follow him.  Peter had to follow the angel by faith, and acting by faith is still all we can do today.  Peter had no guarantee of the outcome, and neither will we today, other than the fact that whatever happens, like Peter, we are spiritually forever safe in God’s arms.  Verse nine continues, And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.  Peter went with the angel, even though he wasn’t sure if this was truly happening or if he was just having a vision or dream.  If things at times seem to be too good to be true when we are serving God, all we can do is follow by faith anyway. Verse ten concludes, When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. When they passed the first and second wards and got to the iron gate that led outside, it opened for them of its own accord.  Peter and the angel went out, but as soon as they were successfully outside, the angel departed.  The angel had fulfilled his mission and now Peter was outside the prison but on his own.  We cannot expect angels to be with us continually, but that is okay, because we have One even greater with us at all times, and that is the Holy Spirit.  

Acts 11:18

Acts 11:18 says, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.  Those who heard Peter agreed with him and glorified God for bringing salvation to the Gentiles.  Verse nineteen adds, Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.  We see a positive result of the persecution of the followers of Christ.  They were scattered abroad, going Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch.  What the Jewish leaders had hoped to accomplish with the stoning of Stephen had the opposite effect.  Verse twenty continues, And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.  Those scattered preached the gospel wherever they went.  Still, yet, not all understood what had been revealed to Peter, as they preached to the Jews only.  They were doing what Jesus had instructed them to do, spread the gospel into all the world, but without the understanding that all the world meant everyone in the world, Jew and Gentile alike. When we reach out to a select group of people, the gospel can still be effective within that group, but it will be limited by our prejudices. Though doing what they understood God to have directed them to do, they were not doing all that God instructed them to do.  We need to ensure that our understanding of God never takes the place of Who God is.  Verse twenty-one states, And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.   When Christians began to do what God had instructed them to do, a great number of people believed and turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  If we witness in accordance with God’s command and under the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, great numbers of people should be saved by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-two adds, Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.  When news of what was going on with Perter reached the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Peter, authorizing him to go as far as Antioch.  Churches should want to know if good things are going on in other churches, but only to rejoice with them and never to attempt to limit their work, unless we know without a doubt that they are teaching or preaching something other than the gospel.  Verse twenty-three continues, Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.  Barnabas was a good man and when he came to them, he saw the evidence of the grace of God in their lives, and he was glad and exhorted them all that with a dedicated heart they should serve the Lord.   When we see evidence of the Holy Spirit at work today, we should rejoice and exhort those whom the Holy Spirit is calling to hold on to their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-four says, For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.  Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit who had put his faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of the preaching and teaching of Barnabas, many people were added to the church.  Of course, just being a good man does us no good spiritually if we are not a born-again Christian, which is really the only kind of Christian that there is.  Verse twenty-five adds, Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:  Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul and bring him back with him.  Barnabas could have basked in his success, but I think he knew it was God's success and not his.  Even if we are being successful in reaching people for God, we must never think that we are the one bringing about the results.  We must never feel that we are alone in doing God's work.  Verse twenty-six continues, And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.  When Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, they spent a whole year assembling with the church and taught many people.  We must reach the lost, but we must also ground the church in the teachings of God.  We are told that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.  I have heard some people say today that they don't call themselves a Christian, but simply a follower of Christ or a disciple of Christ, but since the early church accepted the name, even when it was used in derision by the world, I think we are safe in identifying ourselves by the name Christian.  Verse twenty-seven says., And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.  We are told prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed to them, through the Holy Spirit, that there was to be a great dearth throughout all the world. Though we in America really have never suffered a great lack as a nation as a whole, much of the world today is not as fortunate.  Even here, many, many people suffer from a lack of the necessities of life.  During the reign of Claudius Caesar, this great dearth came to pass for the early church.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: When they heard about the need, the disciples collected an offering, with each giving according to his ability, to send to the brethren which dwelt in Judea.  When we hear of Christians anywhere who are in great need, we need to give freely and joyously according to our ability to help them.  Verse thirty concludes, Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. The donation was sent by Barnabas and to the elders of the churches.  If we collect an offering to help others, we need to place it in the hands of the leaders of the church.  The lack of material needs was just the beginning of the persecution to come.  Conditions begin to go badly for the new church.  I think it is safe to say that anytime the church starts to flourish the world is going to take notice.  When that happens, those who oppose Christ and His people are going to do everything they can to stop the growth of the church.   

Acts11:11

 Acts 11:11 says, And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.  Peter said immediately after tis, three men were already at his house sent to him from Caesarea.  God will always be working ahead of us when He sends us somewhere.  Verse twelve adds, And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:  Peter didn’t go just because these three men were there asking him to, but he went because the Holy Spirit told him to go.  Whatever we do as followers of Christ today should be under the direction and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Peter didn’t go alone but was accompanied by six other brethren.  At least spiritually, when we are sharing the gospel, we should never be alone.  Verse thirteen continues, And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.  Peter said that when they got to the man he had been sent to, that the man shared with them how he had seen an angel in his house telling him to send to Joppa for a man called Peter.  I don’t know if God has sent an angel to anyone telling them to come and look for a man named James, but I pray that if He ever does and I need to go and share the gospel with them that I will be willing to go.  Verse fourteen says, Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.  The man told Peter that the angel told him that Peter would tell him the words that he and his household could be saved by.  We as Christians have the same words to share with the world today, and that is the gospel, which is simply that Jesus lived without sin and died for the sins of all mankind, rose again the third day, and forever defeated sin and death for those who will put their faith in Him.  Verse fifteen adds, And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.   Peter said as he began to speak, that the Holy Spirit fell on them as He had on the disciples at the beginning, and anytime a person is saved, the Holy Spirit is going to immediately fall on them.  Verse sixteen states, Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.  Peter said he then remembered the word of the Lord Who had said John baptized with water, but that they would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  We still do today.  Verse seventeen adds, Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?  Peter said that since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He had given them, who was Peter to stand against them becoming Christians.  We may not always like a certain group of people, but Jesus Christ died for them just as He did for us, and if they accept Him as their Savior and Lord, who are we to stand against them.  Peter recounted all that had occurred with Cornelius and himself, and soon those that had questioned Peter's actions accepted that it was God's will and praised Him.  We need to praise God when people are reached with the gospel and accept Christ as their Savior, not question who they are.  We cannot rest on the past or wait idly by for the future.  When we understand that God is no respecter of persons, then we must understand that this applies not only to reaching the lost, but also to the not placing more value of one Christian over another based on nationality. 

In Acts 11: 1-18, Peter defends his actions to the apostles and the brethren that were at Judea.  Since the gospel was being spread and the number of believers was growling daily, we might think that was what the apostles and brethren at Judea were discussing, but their concern was who was being added to the church.  They had heard that Peter was meeting and eating with uncircumcised people.  Now, these were not just Jewish men, but Jewish men who were followers of Christ.  They still wanted to keep God for themselves and from other nations.  We must be careful that we don't become the same way.  We must never view Christ as the Christ of any nation.  If God has seemingly blessed one nation more than another, that simply means that nation will ultimately have to answer for how they used those blessings.  If it were simply to enrich themselves, with little concern for the rest of the world, then I don't think God will be pleased and call us good and faithful servants.  I see signs occasionally that say let's bring God back to America, but He has never been deported.  We hear of making American great again, and it nearly always refers to material matters.  God is still in America, as He is in the rest of the world.  He is simply waiting for those who call themselves His people to put the spreading of the gospel first.  Peter recounted all that had occurred with Cornelius and him, and those that had questioned Peter's actions accepted that it was God's will and praised Him.  We need to praise God when people are reached with the gospel and accept Christ as their Savior, not question who they are.  We cannot rest on the past or wait idly by for the future.  When we understand that God is no respecter of persons, then we must understand that this applies not only to reaching the lost, but to the value of one Christian over another based on nationality.

Acts 11:1

 Acts 11:1 says, And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.  The apostles and Jews in Judea hear that the Gentiles had received the gospel.  We today are hopefully hearing of people all over the world hearing the Gospel. Verse two adds, And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,  When Peter got there, the Jews who were circumcised began to contend, or argue, with him.  There are still some Christians who will argue about legalistic requirements today.  Verse three continues, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them   They had heard that Peter was meeting and eating with uncircumcised people.  Now, these were not just Jewish men, but Jewish men who were followers of Christ.  They still wanted to keep God for themselves and away from other nations. We must be careful that we don't become the same way.  We must never view Christ as the Christ of any nation.  If God has seemingly blessed one nation more than another, that simply means that nation will ultimately have to answer for how they used those blessings.  If we believe it was simply to enrich ourselves, with little concern for the rest of the world, then I don't think God will be pleased and call us good and faithful servants.  I see signs occasionally that say let's bring God back to America, but He has never been deported.  We hear of making American great again, and it nearly always refers to material matters. God is still in America, as He is in the rest of the world.  He is simply waiting for those who call themselves His people to put the spreading of the gospel first.  Verse four states, But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,  Verse five adds, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:  Peter defended his actions to the apostles and the brethren that were at Judea.  Peter started from the beginning of his experience on the rooftop praying and fasting when the food came down in a sheet.  If we are sharing our beliefs about Christianity, we must base it on what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, and it will never contradict scripture. Reaching the whole world was not a new concept, but it had been God’s intention since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Since the gospel was being spread and the number of believers was growing daily, we might think that was what the apostles and brethren at Judea were discussing, but their concern was who was being added to the church.  Verse six continues, Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  Peter told them about seeing the sheet filled with all kinds of animals that he considered unclean.  Our concern, like Perter would realize was his also, is not with what we eat, but with whom we witness to and fellowship with.  Verse seven declares, And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.  Peter shared with them hearing a Voice that told him to kill them and eat.  We may not hear a voice, but we know that God has already told us to go and share the gospel with everyone, even those that we may consider unworthy.  Verse eight adds, But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.  Peter said he replied that he did not eat things that were unclean, which means that he was speaking out of self-pride.  When we feel superior to others, we are acting out of self-pride as well and not following God’s command.  Verse nine continues, But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  As Peter told them about the Voice saying for him to not call unclean what God had made clean, we should do as well.  There is no one who is any more unworthy of salvation than anyone else because none is worthy.  Verse ten concludes, And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.  Peter said this occurred three times, and then the sheet was drawn up again into heaven.  If these animals clean enough to go into heaven, then they were certainly clean enough for this old sinful world. 

I realize I have spent a lot of time discussing Peter and Cornelius, and we aren't through yet, but I believe this is an important topic that needs to be reaffirmed today. Somehow, I think we have allowed an almost hatred of non Christians to become a part of our belief.  This is something that I believe God wants His people to examine honestly as they encounter people of different race, nationality, religious belief, or anything else  that would cause us to look at anyone else with anything less than the love that God has for them.  We can never justify hatred of others because of what they do or might do to us.  We are called to be like Christ, and as Peter pointed out to Cornelius, Christ forgave even those who physically hung Him on the cross.  God is not our personal avenger to destroy those who harm or may harm us.  He is our personal Savior, as He is theirs, whether we or they ever accept His salvation or not. As Christians, we have accepted His gracious gift, but that doesn't mean we are more loved than anyone else.  God does not mete out His love to one person or group of people more than others.  When anyone strikes out against Christians, God still loves them and is heart broken if they die without coming to know Him as Savior.  We need compassion even for those who hate us.  Otherwise, Christianity becomes a self serving belief.  Just as Christ did not come to kill sinners but to redeem them, if we are to be like Him, we must look to their salvation also.  There is no room for hating anyone in Christianity.  Even if you choose not to agree with me, dig into what God's word says in prayer.  Peter thought he knew how God wanted him to relate to other people until he was in prayer on a rooftop and God showed him that God is no respecter of persons.

Peter had been given a new understanding of God.  When Jesus Christ came into the world the understanding of Who God really is was complete.  Who God was, is and always will be did not change.  People often speak of the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament as if it were different Gods.  There is,always was and will only ever be one God. Divisions between the people of the earth came about because of the sin of man, their thinking themselves to be more than what they were. When Christ came, He came to unify the world once more, but to unify them under His will.  Peter had come to understand this, and he was there to share this good news with Cornelius.  We today, all these years after the coming of Christ, need to affirm that same truth.  When God brings the mission field to us, we don't need to turn up our nose and say that there is one of them and hope they will go away.  We need to reach out to them in love and compassion. Not only will we often not go into all the world, we don't want all the world coming to us.  Peter did not go to Cornelius feeling superior but with a new understanding that God saw all people the same, sinners in need of grace or sinners who had accepted His grace and were called for a purpose.  Peter had said he was just a man.  We may look back on the apostles and early Christians as though they somehow greater than anyone who has come since.  Yet, as Peter said, so would they all have said,  we are just men.  What made them different was their relationship with Jesus, not as an earthly man that they walked with, but as an eternal Savior that they followed.  When we begin to horde the gospel, then we begin to see the world as us and them.  We want to make the gospel exclusive instead of inclusive.  We begin to want certain people destroyed instead of saved, and the gospel ceases to go into all the world.  We need to come to the understanding that Peter had that God is no respecter of persons.  Christ died for all, even those who crucified Him.