Scripture
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
Reflection
In these 4 verses we witness how things don’t turn out well for John, and the author paints a picture that Peter will follow the same fate as John. All this happened not long after we read how the churches in Antioch flourished and grew large in number. We can also learn from these verses that sometimes as the case with Peter and John, situations in a Christian’s life don’t always flourish or go the way we want it to go. It is in these moments that our faith will truly reflect how much we trust God and His character (Con).
Thoughts for the day
- Are you presently going through a rough time? What do you sense God wants to tell you about who He is and His character?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- What is one way you can apply this truth to your life today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
Pray for anyone you know who is facing challenges or struggles right now. Pray for calm in the storm.
