The physician Luke wrote how Peter, “was kept in prison”, and after an angel led him out, “Peter was come to himself, … he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, you are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter”, and in chapter twelve and verse nineteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Herod, “examined the keepers” where we read:
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
The verse begins, “And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death.” Luke began with the words, “And when Herod” which means “and at the time and moment Herod whose name means heroic and was the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles” “had sought for him” or “and looked, searched and clamored for Peter”, “and found him not” which means “and did not discover, discern or come upon Peter”, “he examined the keepers” or “Herod investigated, questioned and scrutinized the guards and watchers” “and commanded that they should be put to death” which means “and ordered that the guards and watchers were to die”. Luke shared how “Herod” looked for “Peter”, but did not find him. He investigated the “guards” of the “prison” and ordered them to die for not “watching” him.
The verse goes on to say, “And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.” Luke continued with the words, “and he went down from Judaea” which means “and Herod departed and left Judaea which means he shall be praised and was toward the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea” “to Caesarea” or “toward Caesarea of Palestine was built near the Mediterranean by Herod the Great on the site of Strabo's Tower, between Joppa and Dora whose name means severed”, “and there abode” which means “and lived, dwelt and made his habitation in Caesarea”. Luke shared how “Herod” left “Judaea” and traveled to “Caesarea” where he lived for a while after he discovered that “Peter” escaped.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Herod” was greatly troubled over “Peter's” escaped, and he examined the guards of the prison to discover what happened with him. “Herod” ordered the “guards” to be put to “death”, and thereby we discover “Herod's” intention for “Peter”. Guards who allowed prisoners to escape were to pay the same penalty that would have been imposed upon the prisoner who escaped, and because “Peter” was destined to die, they died instead. God delivered “Peter” from the “prison”, and because His desire is for everyone to know His plan of “salvation” from sin and death through His Son Jesus, He was intentional in His “Divine purpose and plan”. “Herod” and these guards were used to fulfill God's plan, and those who are wise will not only understand, but also surrender to His Son Jesus to be their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how, “ Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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