Acts 12

Death smites a believer, as the angel did Peter, it made his chains fall off. So death makes all the chains of sin fall off (Acts 12:7). Believers at death are made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23).

But at last omnipotent grace overcame you. When Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, an angel came and beat off his chains (Acts 12:7). So when you were sleeping in the Devil's arms, that Christ should by his Spirit smite your heart, and cause the chains of sin to fall off,…

God grant we may thus glorify him, if he calls us to it: many pray, Let this cup pass away, but not, Your will be done. 16. We glorify God when we give God the glory of all we do: Herod when he had made an oration, and the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a God, a…

2. We may know we pray in faith, when though we have not the present thing we pray for, yet we believe God will grant, therefore we will stay his leisure. A Christian having a command to pray, and a promise, he is resolved to follow God with prayer and not give over; as Peter he…

If a man digs for gravel, much more for gold: (Philippians 3:14) I press toward the mark. Heaven gate is not like that [reconstructed: iron]-gate, which opened to Peter of its own accord (Acts 12:10). Heaven is not like those ripe figs which fall into the mouth of the eater (Nah…

12. When a man's afflictions are upon a good account, that he suffers for Christ, he has the prayers of God's people. It is no small privilege to have a stock of prayer going; it is like a merchant that has a part in several ships: suffering saints have a large share in the pray…

Thus at the prayer of the Church, that was reproached for holding forth the faith of Jesus, the gift of the holy Spirit was given, to speak the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). At the earnest suit and intercession the Church made to God, Peter the Apostle was released out…

Reason 2: Difference of opinion causes difference of affection, and is an occasion of many dear and precious souls to withdraw communion; as is to be seen in Barnabas and Paul, dissenting about the choice of a companion, the contention grew so hot, that they separated the one fr…

(1.) A real condolency, grief, and trouble of mind for the bonds of others, as if we ourselves were bound. (2.) Continual prayers for their relief, supportment, and deliverance; as it was with the Church in the case of Peter in his bonds (Acts 12). (3.) A ministration to them, a…

That God will have his name glorified by us, appears in this; that he punishes those which of obstinacy set themselves to dishonor him, or by negligence did not sanctify him, when they should have done so. Herod sitting in his royalty, made such an oration, that the people cried…

Cast out devils (Matthew 17:21). Opened prisons (Acts 12:9). Shut heaven (James 5:17).

Christ does not say that every one of them has an angel: as for instance, it may be said, these prisoners have their keepers, these scholars have their masters, these soldiers have their captains — it does not follow that every one has a particular keeper, master, captain, &c. A…

Of Ephesus we find, that fear fell on all the Jews and Greeks which dwelt there, and many believed; yes, many of the Magicians themselves, whose books that were burned, amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver, so mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:17, 18, 1…

That God will have his name glorified by us, appeareth in this; that he punisheth those which of obstinacie, set themselues to dishonour him, or by negligence did not sanctifie him, when they should have done so. Herod sitting in his royaltie, made such an oration that the peopl…

Peter had led the way to the rest in that notable confession of Christ (Matthew 16:16), and is conceived to have some primacy for the orderly beginning of actions in the College of the Apostles. James was the first apostle who shed his blood for Christ (Acts 12:2), and John was…

And he said, at the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth. While many of the disciples were gathered together praying, God sent Peter to them (Acts 12:12-13). While Cornelius was in the act of prayer, at the ninth hour of the day, which was the hour of praye…

When soldiers are said to watch for a city, it is not meant that every citizen has a soldier to watch for him. The only place, which seems to countenance that opinion, is Acts 12:15. Then said they, it is his Angel.

5. They do not only keep off hurt, but there are many blessings and benefits, that we are partakers of by their ministry. As the angel of the Lord delivered Peter out of prison (Acts 12:7): And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he…

Mr. Mede has undertaken to prove, from (Joshua 24:26). That the Jews of old, and Christians in Gospel-times had their [Proseuchae, or] praying places, which he thus describes (as to the Jews of old:) Proseucha, says he, was a plot of ground, encompassed with a wall, or some othe…

The fourth is, the false flattering, and applause of men, which sooth vs vp in our humours, in perswading vs to be that which in truth we are not, as the people flattered Herod, when they gaue a shout, and said, The voice of God, and not of man. Act 12:22. The third point is, th…

For, that James before whom Christ was transfigured in the mount, was James the son of Zebedee, and brother of John (Matthew 17:1): After six days, Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain, and was transfigured before them. Which…

When Ahitophel shall go and hang himself, just upon that prayer of distressed David, 2 Samuel 15:31 When Haman shall fall and his plot be broken, just upon the Fast kept by Mordecai and Hester, Esther 4:16 Our own Speed, in his History of Britain, tells us, that Richard the Firs…

(6.) The respect and relation Providence bears to our prayers, is of singular consideration, and a most taking and sweet meditation. prayer honors Providence, and Providence honors prayer. Great notice is taken of this in Scripture, Genesis 24:45 Daniel 9:20 Acts 12:12 You have…

What creature has not this mighty God used against his enemies? An angel destroys Sennacherib's host (Isaiah 37:36), and smites Herod with worms (Acts 12:23). Heaven above sends down a hell of fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24).

(Ephesians 6:18, 19) Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador. (2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2) Brethren pray for us, that th…

(Romans 1:9) Without ceasing I make mention of you all in my prayer. (Acts 12:5) Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church to God for him. (Isaiah 62:6) You that make mention of the Lord keep not silence: ver. 7. And give him no rest till he est…

Thus by an Angel he destroyed the army of Sennacherib when he intended and threatened the destruction of Jerusalem. And by an Angel he smote Herod in the midst of his pride and persecution (Acts 12). And this ministry of theirs is in an especial manner pointed to in several plac…

§ 39 Abarbinel, and after him Manasse Ben Israel with some others of them fix on Agrippa the last King of the Jews, who, as they say with his son Monabasius was cut off or slain at Rome by Vespasian. A learned man in his Apparatus ad Origines Ecclesiasticas, mistakes this Agripp…

When angels strike, they strike to purpose. It is said (Acts 12) that an angel of the Lord smote Herod, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Spirits have mighty power.

You shalt be a man, and no God in the hand of him that slayes you. And when Herod prided himself in the acclamations of the vain multitude, (the voice of God and not of a man.) The Angel of the Lord filled that God immediately with worms which slew him and devoured him, Acts 12:…

Secondly, many other sinnes preuaile in the wicked, but pride is the sinne that troubls the children of God, and when other sinnes die, then will pride reuiue, yea it will arise out of grace it selfe: for the child of God will be proud, because he is not proud: therefore Paul' m…

It is all up hill to Heaven, and it will make us sweat before we get to the top of the hill. Indeed Hell will be taken without storm: the gates of Hell, like that iron gate (Acts 12:10), open of their own accord: but if we get to Heaven, we must force our way: we must besiege it…

He that wrote the gospel of Mark, is supposed to be he whose mother was Mary, in whose house they were praying for Peter, when he, brought out of prison by the angel, came and knocked at the door; of which we read. Acts 12:12. "And when he had considered the thing, he came to th…

So Naaman by his office being obliged to go to the house of the Idol-God Rimmon, and not yet converted, could more hardly abstain from that outward idolatry, than now when to natural corruption fear of offending his master the King of Assyria is added. No doubt Pilate naturally…

Basil in his Sermon upon the forty Martyrs, calls them the stars of the world, the flowers of the Church. And Chrysostome upon Acts 12. speaking of those who were praying for Peter in the night, says, That they were made by afflictions more pure then the Heaven. And some of the…

The Church whereof Saul made havoc (Acts 8:3). The Church that was vexed by Herod (Acts 12:1). Such was the Church at Antioch, which assembled together in one place (Acts 13:14), wherein were sundry prophets (Acts 13:1).

A nation may be said to be converted, from the professed subjection to the Gospel of so many in it, as may give demonstration to the whole; but the way of worship for those so converted, is peculiarly instituted. It is said moreover, that the several congregations in one city, a…

We would have a powerful friend, especially if we need him. (Acts 12:20): "They sought peace with Herod, because their country was nourished by the king's country"; so should we do, we cannot live without God. If sin be pardoned, then we are at peace with God, and may have free…

2. Irrational, God can raise an Army of Flies, as he did against King Pharaoh, Exodus 8:24. An Army of Worms, as he did against King Herod, Acts 12:23. O what a Lord is here who has so many Hosts under his Pay and conduct!

Yet giving them up to strong delusions, that they may believe lies, and be damned (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12, etc.). In carrying on of this work towards the one and the other, he puts forth the power, rule, and dominion, which he has of his Father over spirits, both good and bad:…

This is all our condition by nature. Now when God loosens the bolts, and shuts back the many locks that were upon us, as the Angel made Peter's chains fall off (Acts 12:12), then are we said to be enlarged to run the way of his commandment, or as it is expressed (Luke 1:74), to…

We continually depend upon him every moment; in him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28); and surely dependence should beget observance, and therefore men should be loath to break with God, or careful to reconcile themselves to him, on whom they depend every moment…

The Angel that was merciful to Balaam's Ass, was ready to slay Balaam, but that he was reserved to fall by other hands. When Herod was so wicked as to assume glory to himself, which of right is God's, the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not glory to God (Acts 12:23)…

So when Demetrius had pressed his companions with such prevailing arguments of profit [illegible], you know that by this trade we have our living, presently they were all upon a flame, and the voice prevailed by the space of two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians (Acts 19:28…

He will with the temptation make a way to escape. Thus he did to Peter (Acts 12:10). Peter's prayers had opened heaven, and God's angel opens the prison; God can either prevent a snare, or break it (Psalm 68:20).

Now God having bestowed the gift, and requiring the duty, his people ought not to be hindered in the performance of it: are all those precepts to pray in the Scriptures, only for our closets? When the Church was in distress for the imprisonment of Peter, there was a meeting at t…

The Lord enriches them with Wit and Parts suitable to the places he calls them to, and Pride fumes from their heart into their head, and makes them giddy. Herod was proud of the Oration he made, and assumed that glory to himself, which he should have given to God, and his pride…

There are so many precepts to obey, so many promises to believe, so many temptations to resist, that we shall not find the way easy: there must not only be diligence, but violence. Beloved, heaven-gate is not like that iron-gate (Acts 12:10) which opened to Peter of its own acco…

Stephen, that was one of the first of the family from where your husband sprang, was knocked on the head with stones (Acts 7:59-60). James, another of this generation, was slain with the edge of the sword (Acts 12:2). To say nothing of Paul and Peter, men anciently of the family…

Fourthly, God obviates the accomplishment of conceived sin, by removing, or taking away, the objects on whom, or about whom, the sin conceived was to be committed. Acts 12:11 yields us a signal instance of this issue of providence: when the day was coming wherein Herod thought t…