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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Herod Agrippa I Slain


Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of  The Holy Spirit: Herod Agrippa I, slain.

God's Messenger: The Angel Of The Lord.

Bible Location: Caesarea.

Bible Text: 
Acts 12:20-24 NLT
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 
21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 
22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24 Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.

Herod Agrippa I king of Palestine, was himself from Caesarea. Herod persecuted believers of The Way. There was nothing, including murder, that the king would not do, for public acceptance.

Acts 12:1-3 KJV (Herod's persecution of the church.)
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also..."

Acts 12:20,21 NLT
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 
21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 

For some reason Herod, was at extreme odds with the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.  The people of Tyre and Sidon, could not let this condition exist for long because they derived their grain and supplies from Palestine.

In a plan to come by acceptance they gained the friendship of one Blastus, King Herod's finance minister, some think, through bribery. Having done so, they came into his and Herod's good graces.
The King being pleased as the to the issuance of peace, he was inclined to address the delegations from Tyre and Sidon. Arrayed in regal splendor he gave a forceful oration.

Acts 12:22 NLT
The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”

How contrived! These people, no doubt despised King Herod, but in their selfish desire they were more than willing to deify him, as a means to an end.
Sound like politics, where you live?

Acts 12:23 NLT
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

In Old Testament days, angels were called Watchers, that is they watched the affairs of men, and judged  them accordingly. (See  e.g. Jeremiah 4:16/ Daniel 4:13, 17, 23).

Why had the angel of the Lord, stricken Herod?
“because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God.”

Isaiah 42:8 KJV
I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.

Isaiah 42:8 NLT
“I am the LORD; that is My name!  I will not give My glory to anyone else,  nor share My praise with carved idols. 

Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.


(First Commandment)
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

(Second Commandment)
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

Only one, is to be worshiped, and that is the one and only living God.
No one is to be worshiped in His place, ever! (Isaiah 42:8 KJV)

Leviticus 26:1,2 KJV
1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
2 Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV
For the LORD thy God is a Consuming Fire, even a jealous God.

Matthew 17:5 KJV
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

I John 5:21 KJV
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Acts 12:24 NLT
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.

With Herod dead, the church had time to grow and prosper, the Word being preached everywhere,  converts to the faith were added.

James was dead, but the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, were willing to lay down their lives.

Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

What was it Tertullian said?
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Yes there would be persecution, there would be martyrdom but the church of Jesus Christ will always prevail!

Matthew 16:18 KJV
And I say also unto thee... upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I Corinthians 10:4 KJV
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Salvation Prayer