King Herod knew everything; at least he thought he did. Peter was preaching to the people about Jesus and that He was alive, and it made King Herod angry! Everybody knew that Jesus had been crucified and had died on that agonizing cross. And they all knew that He had been buried in a cave, and a huge stone had been rolled over the entrance to the cave. The stone had been sealed, and Roman soldiers stood on guard to make sure no one stole the body of Jesus. So how could Jesus possibly be alive?
But He IS alive! Peter was absolutely sure of this, and what he was preaching made King Herod so angry he said, Arrest that man! And Peter was arrested and put in prison, with far more guards than an ordinary prisoner. There were sixteen soldiers, four at a time, appointed to guard him. And they put big, rattling chains on his wrists, along with three locked doors between him and freedom.
But the next morning Peter was gone! Sandals, coat—everything was gone—except his chains. If the king was angry before, he was furious now. Somebody must be to blame for Peter’s escape! Somebody must pay for this!
King Herod was up against the power of God, and no amount of rage was going to change God’s plan. Perhaps you feel angry too when people tell you that you can’t do wrong and get away with it. It is impossible! God says twice, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4;18:204Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)
20The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)). But the good news is that this same Jesus who died and rose again from the dead is ready to save you right now. He died to save sinners like you and me. He wants you! Will you come to Him right now?
King Herod ordered that all those soldiers should be executed! They must be to blame for letting Peter escape, and King Herod was going to show his power.
God has power too, but He does not show His power like that. He made the earth and all that is in it by His mighty power. What then could He do to you since you have disobeyed Him? Here is the greatest wonder in the whole world’s history—”Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). He could not save sinners unless He took those sins upon Himself and paid for them. And that is what He did in those three hours of darkness on the cross. The work is finished! And His payment is big enough for your sins too.
Will you say “No” to this offer? Will you refuse the Saviour who died for sinners? If so, then you must bear the punishment for your sins forever, and nobody could say that God does not care. God proved that He cared when He laid all the sins of every believer on His Son and punished Him instead. If you refuse the Saviour of sinners, then you must spend eternity without God, without love and without light.
King Herod was eaten by worms after that, and he died an awful death. God has not forgotten, and King Herod will pay for his own sins.
But I have not told you where Peter went after he left the prison. Herod did not know, but I know, because I read the story in Acts 12. Would you like to know? Then get a Bible and read the story yourself. It is too wonderful to miss!
ML-02/14/2010