Acts 12 marks a transition point in Acts. For the first 11 chapters, Luke recounts the gospel spread from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the gentile regions beyond. Then in chapter 13, he will change the focus towards Paul’s ministry to the gentiles. But, Luke takes a moment in chapter 12 to check-in on the church in Jerusalem. It turns out, persecution was rampant, and they faced a new threat with the murder of James and imprisonment of Peter. How would the church respond? They responded with earnest prayer but struggled to believe God would act. Thankfully, God in His grace did act to rescue Peter and care for the church. More importantly, God ensured that His Word and the gospel spread would not be thwarted.

Discipleship Questions:

1. What strikes you about the difficulty facing the Jerusalem Church in this story?

2. How did the church demonstrate earnest prayer?

3. Describe a time when you prayed earnestly, but struggled to believe God would act in that situation.

4. In this story, what are the ways God is clearly in control despite Herod's seemingly endless power?

5. Do you struggle to trust God in prayer when the answer is ‘No’. Maybe there isn’t healing or the rescue doesn’t come. Discuss your struggle with the group. What are some promises in the Bible that help you trust God in these situations?