UNOH

Grace

To identify with Christ’s suffering

Readings

• Acts 12:1-5
• Acts 12:6-19
• Acts 12:20-25

Reading deeper…

Jim Reiher, The Book of Acts: A Social Justice Commentary, Chapter 12.

Devotion 1

Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.

Read: Acts 12:1-5

Reflection:

Acts 12 opens with an ominous reminder that Jesus’ followers are called to walk in the way of the cross. Following Peter’s bold announcement of his belief in Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus began to teach his disciples what leading the people to liberation from captivity would really mean–not rushing headlong into a violent revolution, but living out God’s love and justice and speaking truth to power even in the faces of the consequences (Luke 9:18-27). Even when the consequences were death on a Roman cross. Or a sword. Now, having heard about James’ beheading, and finding himself a pawn in Herod Agrippa’s political games where the followers of the Way have become cast as the ‘bad guys’ in the popular opinion, Peter himself stares down the consequences of living out the way of Jesus.

Ask:

• Who are the people in the current world who come to mind as you read this story of James and Peter killed and imprisoned for out the way of Jesus?
• What might it mean for you to live out the way of the cross in your neighbourhood this week?

Share:

• Communion

Pray:

• Pray for those in our world who are mistreated for living out the way of Jesus
• The Lord’s Prayer

Devotion 2

Take time to sit in silence, aware of the presence of God’s Spirit

Read: Acts 12:6-19

“Isn’t it interesting that no one suggested that it would be appropriate to kill Herod, or wipe out the threat to their religion by armed rebellion? Think about that for a moment. No one in the life of the early church ever suggested such a pathway. Not during the first centuries at least. That erroneous line of thought evolved in the church’s thinking some centuries later, and it is still strongly believed by parts of the church today. This was not the attitude of the original apostles and believers. When the early Christians were persecuted, they gathered together, supported each other, loved their enemies and prayed.”1

Ask:

• Imagine yourself in the place of the characters in this story. What emotions do you experience?
• What encouragement or challenge do you hear in this story?

Share: Communion

Pray:

• Ask God to give you opportunities to encourage others today
• End with the Lord’s prayer

1. Jim Reiher, The Book of Acts: A Social Justice Commentary. Dandenong: UNOH, 2014, 112. Emphasis in original.

Devotion 3

Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of thanksgiving together, aware of God’s loving kindness toward us.

Read: Acts 12:20-25

Forming a bracket around the story of Peter’s miraculous jailbreak are the deaths of James and that of Herod Agrippa, which probably happened five months later.2 (Interestingly, the story of Herod’s death is noted by the historian account of Josephus who, similar to Luke, attributes his death to his failure to rebuke impious remarks.3) By placing this story here in his narrative, Luke is emphasising a point.

Ask:

• What do you think Luke is trying to show by arranging his material in this way?
• How might this story shape the way we live this week?

Share: Communion

Pray:

• Share in a time of prayer
• End with the Lord’s prayer

2. Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998, 389.

3. Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 19:346.