S3E305 – Acts 11-12: Thunder

Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is  Saturday Acts 11-12. I’m calling today’s episode “Thunder.” Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash Comments on Acts 12 In verse one of chapter 12 we read that King Herod had arrested some of the Christians in order to persecute them. And in verse two we read that Herod had James, the brother of John put to death with the sword.  That’s all that is said about James. The narrative moves quickly to the imprisonment of Peter, and how the Angel came to release him in the middle of the night before he was scheduled to be martyred. But I want to talk a bit about James. Which James is this? The verse says this was James, the brother of John. He was one of the first three disciples that Jesus called at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus called James and John “Boanerges” — Sons of Thunder.  I was curious about this nickname, so I did a little research. Why did Jesus call these brothers Sons of Thunder? I had a hunch that perhaps it was because they had commanding presence…perhaps with loud voices. I have a brother-in-law with a very loud, booming baritone speaking voice. When Mike speaks, everyone in the room hears him. I could imagine James and John perhaps being like that.  We do know that Jesus always had a reason for everything He did, so let’s see if Scripture gives us a clue. It’s in Mark 3:17 that we learn that Jesus called them Boanerges, but that verse does not tell us why.  A clue might be found in Luke 9:54. Jesus was traveling with His disciples, and they passed through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem. While in Samaria, they wanted to stop for the night but the Samaritan people didn’t want them there. Remember, Jews and Samaritans had a hatred for each other, so since Jesus and His disciples were on the way to Jerusalem, the Samaritans thought they were Jews. Which of course they were, technically. So because of this trouble, James and John asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy them. Of course Jesus didn’t let them, and He rebuked them at the idea. But their request does suggest that James and John might have been passionate at the least, and perhaps had short fuses to anger. Sons of Thunder. Seems to fit, don’t you think? Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 11 GNT; Ch. 12 NCV Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00It’s not that he’s yelling. He’s just got a very loud voice. INTRO S12E304 – 0:11Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Gospel Saturday, and we’re going to read Acts 11 and 12. I’m calling today’s episode “Thunder”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e304. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Are you ready? Let’s go. ACTS 11 (GNT) – 0:44Acts, chapter 11. (1) The apostles and the other believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. (2) When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles criticized him, saying, (3) “You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!” (4) So Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened from the very beginning: (5) “While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it stopped next to me. (6) I looked closely inside and saw domesticated and wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. (7) Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’ (8) But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord! No ritually unclean or defiled food has ever entered my mouth.’ (9) The voice spoke again from heaven, ‘Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.’ (10) This happened three times, and finally the whole thing was drawn back up into heaven. (11) At that very moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. (12) The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six fellow believers from Joppa accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went into the house of Cornelius. (13) He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. (14) He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.’ (15) And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as on us at the beginning. (16) Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ (17) It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!” (18) When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, “Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!” (19) Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. (20) But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (22) The news about this reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (23) When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts. (24) Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many people were brought to the Lord. (25) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. (26) When he found him, he took him to Antioch, and for a whole year the two met with the people of the church and taught a large group. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. (27) About that time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. (28) One of them, named Agabus, stood up and by the power of the Spirit predicted that a severe famine was about to come over all the earth. (It came when Claudius was emperor.) (29) The disciples decided that they each would send as much as they could to help their fellow believers who lived in Judea. (30) They did this, then, and sent the money to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul. ACTS 12 (NCV) – 4:12Acts, chapter 12. (1) During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church. (2) He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed by the sword. (3) Herod saw that some of the people liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.) (4) After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast. (5) So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him. (6) The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. (7) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. (8) Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” (9) So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. (10) They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him. (11) Then Peter realized what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent this angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen.” (12) When he considered this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying. (13) Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. (14) When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” (15) They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.” (16) Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. (17) Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, “Tell James and the other believers what happened.” Then he left to go to another place. (18) The next day the soldiers were very upset and wondered what had happened to Peter. (19) Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed. Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed. (20) Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king’s personal servant, to be on their side,...