It Starts Small

In today’s scripture we meet King Herod. Specifically, Herod Agrippa I, who is the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod the Great was the king who had all the baby boys killed in Bethlehem (See Matthew 2). Lets just say that the apple rolled down the generational ladder and King Agrippa was a wicked evil king. He had James, one of the 12, killed. Now he had Peter in prison.

 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:3

If you were Peter, how would you be feeling in this moment? Your brother in Christ was just killed by this mad king and you are sitting in the prison of this king.

As humans, we can only see what is before us. We see the injustice of James being killed. Peter is now in prison, an unjustifiable imprisonment, and we can conclude it is hopeless. What we can not see is the Lord working behind the scenes. Look closely at what the Lord was doing here.

While Peter was in prison, the Lord sent an angel to save him. This is such a fascinating story and we read it to appreciate the twists and turns. Peter is literally in the “eleventh” hour. He is to be killed as soon as the sun comes up. But then God. God sent him an angel.

There is no human force that can go against the will of God!

If we look close we will see God exercises His judgment when the right time comes. One day while this wicked evil king was addressing the crowd, he heard the people shouting.

The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

Acts 12:22

If do not know about you, but when I read that verse, a million very loud red flags are waving. Apparently, the king missed them, and he was so pleased and flattered he accepted what they said. He was god. Right at that very moment we read something pretty darn graphic.

At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Acts 12:23

God’s judgment came and Agrippa died.

The part I love most about today’s scripture, God never stops moving the right people to the right place.

After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.

Acts 12:25
(Bold for emphasis)

On the surface, this is just an insignificant detail. In all reality, God was positioning Barnabas, Saul, and Mark John for the most important mission endeavor in human history! (stay tuned for tomorrows reading on this!)

You cannot stop God. A new dawn is coming and the Roman empire is about to see the gospel spread like wild fire through every town and city in the Roman empire.

So let us look at the whole picture:

James was killed. (Shook the whole community of believers)

Peter was imprisoned and sentenced to die, but the Lord rescued him. Peter leaves to keep the other believers safe, which put James, the half brother of Jesus n charge of the first church.

The wicked King who killed James and put Peter in prison (who is on the run) was now dead.

Saul, Barnabas and John Mark were now setting out to spread the gospel to “all nations.”

¹³ I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:13-14

Friends, do not be discouraged! God is working ALL things. We may not be able to see it, but all these events had one purpose: expand the kingdom of heaven. Everything evil was throwing at God, God flipped on it’s head and used for good. Be patient. Wait upon the Lord. He will lead you and guide you.

Nothing can stop the our God!

Thoughts to Ponder:

• What are things in your world that are bothering you?
• How does the idea of “God’s sovereignty” help you “wait for the Lord” with hope?

© Kimberlee Smith 2025 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.