Daniel

The Rise And Fall Of A Tyrant

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2020-07-11

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines Acts 12 to illustrate the nature, fury, failure, and fall of tyrants, using Herod Agrippa as a case study. He defines tyranny as the unlawful use of lawful authority, emphasizing that rulers must submit to God. The sermon highlights God's sovereignty over rulers, the inevitability of persecution, and the ultimate judgment of proud tyrants, while encouraging believers to trust in God's deliverance and the unstoppable growth of His Word.

[John Weaver] And I'm just going to read a few verses. I wish I had time to read the entire chapter, but it'll be Acts chapter 12. And the title of the message is the rise and fall of a tyrant. So notice if you would act chapter 12. beginning with verse 1.

[John Weaver] Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter. And then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter or Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound the two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

[John Weaver] I'm going to stop right there just momentarily. Actually, we're going to be using the entire chapter. But let me just begin by pointing out the fact that tyrants come in all shapes and sizes, as well as degrees in their tyranny. When we think of a tyrant, we normally think of men like Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, certain individuals like that who literally killed or murdered millions of their own people. But we fail to realize oftentimes that there is also a benevolent tyranny. Tyranny does not necessarily have to be cruel and oppressive in order to be tyranny. If you look up the word tyrant In a dictionary, you will come up with definitions like these. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] A sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively and unjustly. Here's a second definition. Any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically. And then if you look up the word tyranny, here are two definitions. It says arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, despotic abuse of authority. And then I like this next one just for the purpose of explanation. Government by ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state.

[John Weaver] and use it unfairly and cruelly. Well, the truth of the matter is there is no man that has unlimited power. Only God is sovereign. But the interesting thing is this. I must point out that a tyrant is not necessarily always someone who is cruel and oppressive. A tyrant could also be someone who uses lawful authority unlawfully. So if you just simply look around and look at what is taking place in America today, you're going to find that there is a lot of tyranny that is going to be demonstrated.

[John Weaver] Now, whether people agree with the United States constitution or not, I want to read to you article six, paragraph two, and I want you to listen very carefully to what the United States constitution says. This constitution and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States, which is the constitution, shall be the supreme law of the land. And the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary, notwithstanding. So article six, paragraph two says this, it doesn't matter what the state constitution say, if they are in contradiction to the United States constitution, neither does it matter what laws any states pass. If they're in contradiction to the constitution of the United States, they would then be null and void.

[John Weaver] Now you have to understand this. One may be lawfully elected and he may be given lawful power. But when he uses that lawful power unlawfully, then he becomes a tyrant. He is ruling according to his own dictates. He's ruling according to his own wishes and desires and not according to law. By the way, the difference between a democracy and a republic is very simple. The word democracy, of course, refers to mob rule. But a republic is supposed to be ruled by law. And we're supposed to have A republic. You remember the person who asked Benjamin Franklin after the Constitutional Convention, what kind of government have we been given? His answer was a republic, if you can keep it. So in the exact sense then, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself authority without having a right to it and or He has been given that authority and then he turns around and uses it unlawfully. So a tyrant then may either be a usurper or he may be one that ignores the law.

[John Weaver] Let me give you some illustrations. When Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to invade and conquer the South, it was Claiborne Jackson, who happened to be the governor of Missouri, who responded to Abraham Lincoln. And he said this, your request is illegal, unconstitutional, revolutionary, inhuman, diabolical, and cannot be complied with. So he's just spelled it out for Lincoln very clearly.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you a couple of quotes just to set the stage so you can understand where we are before I get to Acts chapter 12. David Davis, who was a Supreme Court justice, left us with these remarkable thoughts on despotism. Listen carefully. He says, and I'm quoting, the constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people. equally in war and peace and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men at all times under all circumstances.

[John Weaver] No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the will of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy and despotism. Did you hear what this Supreme Court justice said? He is saying that no, the constitution cannot be suspended for any reason. Pandemic or no pandemic. War or no war. It does not matter. Here's another quote by Justice William O. Douglas. He says this.

[John Weaver] Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us? The constitutional theory is that we the people are the sovereigns. The state and federal officials only are agents. We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy as we need not stay docile and quiet. And this decision was Colton versus Kentucky in 1972. And one more quote, this one is by Montana State Representative john Fuller.

[John Weaver] And this was in reference to the COVID-19. Right now, he said, and I quote, we did not vote on this shelter in place dictum. Yeah, we did not vote on the shutdown of all non essential businesses. Hysteria leads to a dismissal of the factual. And the factual analysis of the current Wuhan flu is that many of the policies enacted here in Montana are irrational and insulting.

[John Weaver] Does anyone believe that this vulnerable, such as this mid-70s old man, that's how old he is, are incapable of taking appropriate precautions on their own without the governor destroying the livelihoods of our fellow Montanians? Does anyone really expect now that a governor has assumed the power to decide who is essential or not, that future governors will not expand on such policies? Increasing dependence on government and passively accepting that some elite somewhere knows best about our welfare It's much more dangerous than the Wuhan virus.

[John Weaver] The natural desire to be safe often suppresses the need to be free. But abandoning one's own responsibility to provide for their own safety will result in government tyranny and you will still die. Montana State Representative John Fuller. Well, Rush Junior in one of his books also pointed out that the word tyrant basically means one who rules without God. How in the world could he make such a statement? How could a tyrant be simply one who rules without God? Well, listen very carefully to Psalm 75, verses five through seven. God says to the rulers, lift not up your head on high, speak not with a stiff neck.

[John Weaver] For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the south, nor from the west. But God is the judge. He putteth down one, and he setteth up another." So God is the one that puts down rulers and exalts rulers as well. And then Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2 verses 20 and 21 Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and miter he is and he changed at the times and seasons he removed Kings and set up Kings he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that no understanding so he says God is the one who removes Kings and puts up Kings now in order to that a tyrant is one who rules without God, you must remember the passage in Romans chapter 13.

[John Weaver] Since the Bible commands everyone to be in submission to the higher authority, there is no higher authority than God. He is the highest. That means whatever position anyone is in, He must be in submission to God. Moreover, may I remind you that God created only three institutions. He created the family, which is a ministry of education, the church, which is a ministry of race and civil government, which is a ministry of justice. And since God is the creator of each of these institutions, it necessarily follows that anyone who is in those institutions are answerable and accountable to him. Moreover, when you look in Romans chapter 13, especially verse four and verse six, in that passage in Romans 13, verse four, the Bible says that rulers are his ministers. Hmm. He is the minister of God to thee for good. Wow.

[John Weaver] Well, the word minister happens to be the word Deaconess in the Greek, which is where we get our English word beacon. And the word deacon literally means a servant. So God then appointed civil rulers as his deacons as his servants. And then he said, if you do evil, be afraid for he is the revenger of God. He is the avenger of them that do evil. Guess what? The word revenger. Literally, it's ekdikaios in the Greek, and it means one that exacts righteousness out of. So why has God created civil rulers? Number one, to be his deacon, his minister, his servant. Number two, to be his exactor of righteousness. And number three, when you get to Romans 13 in verse six, he again talks about them being ministers, but this time it's a different word. It's the word liturgoi, plural, liturgos, singular. It's the word liturgoi, it's where we get our English word liturgy from. What is the liturgy? It's a public worship. So why did God ordain civil rulers? To be his deacons, to be his exactor of righteousness, and to be his public worship.

[John Weaver] Obviously, when you have a civil ruler, then who does not bend the knee to God and bow to God and rule according to God, he is indeed a tyrant. God is the creator. And as creatures, we owe him honor and glory and submission. I love this quote from the Alabama Constitution. Listen to it. that the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. And when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression. Wow. Wow. A tyrant is not going to recognize God He's not going to recognize any law. He's not even going to recognize the people. A tyrant is much like that individual in Luke 18 that our Lord described. There was a certain ruler who feared not God nor regarded man. And so you're going to find a tyrant is one that does not fear God. and consequently has no regard for man.

[John Weaver] That is why in the Bible, a tyrant is compared to a roaring lion and a raging bear. You'll find that in Proverbs 28 in verse 15, where God says, as a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people. And if you look up the word wicked, you'll find that it means cruel, despotic, and criminal.

[John Weaver] Now, when we're talking about tyrants, we have an excellent illustration of one in Acts chapter 12. And that is Herod. So I want you to look particularly now at verses 1 and 2. I want you to see the fury of a tyrant. And now about that time, Herod, the king, stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James, the brother of John, with a sword. Now, I want you to note the Bible says now Herod, the king.

[John Weaver] Let me identify this man. This is not Herod, the great who slew the infants at Bethlehem. Neither is it Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. This is Herod Agrippa. He was the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa, like his grandfather, was an Idumean. That's just another word for an Edomite in the Bible. He was an Idumean through his grandfather, Herod the Great, and he was the grandson of Miriam, the Maccabean princess. Obviously now this man had a rather bad heritage. His grandfather murdered babies. His father murdered John the Baptist. I mean, let's put it like this.

[John Weaver] Usually wicked rulers always try to outdo the others. And so here Herod The king now is stretching forth his hand, the Bible says, to vex certain in the church. Now, when the Bible says he stretched forth his hands, that means that he's obviously now in fury, going to try to persecute certain individuals. Note, if you would, please. He says now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church.

[John Weaver] So undoubtedly he began with the leaders and the word vexed indicates that he oppressed, afflicted, harmed, maltreated, and evilly and wickedly attacked them. Now, probably at first it was something like fines and or confiscation of goods, maybe imprisonment. But then, of course, it led to murder.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to know that this is a renewing now and a reviving of persecution. If you look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter eight, beginning there with verse one, you will find the persecution that arose under Saul of Tarsus. Look at it. Acts eight, verse one. And Saul was consenting unto his death. That is the death of Stephen. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles and devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. And Esther saw. He made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women and committed them to prison. So here is Saul then persecuting, arresting and confining everyone that he can.

[John Weaver] He hates Christ so much and he hates the truth so much. When you look in Acts chapter 9, I'm not going to go over Saul's conversion, but after he was saved by the grace of God, if you'll look in verse 31, here's what the Bible says after God saved him. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and were multiplied. So after Saul was converted, the churches had rest.

[John Weaver] In other words, They now began to really multiply through peace. Now, the interesting thing is this persecution under Saul was not just imprisonment. It also oftentimes led to death. If you would look in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10, you will see Paul's own confession of what happened. Acts 26 and verse 10. He says, which thing I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints that I shut up in prison had received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. So it's not just Stephen that Paul gave his voice against, but obviously plenty of the saints as well. So Herod then in Acts chapter 12, is beginning to stretch forth his hand in fury.

[John Weaver] He undoubtedly begins lightly, but then of course it progresses into murder because he murdered James, the brother of John with a sword. Now, James was one of the first three apostles. James was with our Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. And now James has the honor of being the first apostle to be martyred for the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, before I go any further, there are several truths that we need to grasp right here. First, I want you to understand that milder and lighter persecution usually progresses into heavy and more severe persecution. If you buckle under when persecution is light and mild, what will you do when it is rough and severe? I want to show you this principle. I won't get a whole Acts 12, but look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse five. I want you to see what Jeremiah asked. Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse five. Look at it. Jeremiah 12 and verse five. Jeremiah sets this principle out very clearly for us. He asked, if thou has run with the footman, And they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if, if in the land of peace where thou trustest, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan? So he said, if you can't run with the footman, you're not going to be expected to run with the horses.

[John Weaver] And if you can't stand in the land of peace when everything is hunky dory, so to speak, He said, what's going to happen in the swelling of the Jordan? What's going to happen when real tribulation, real trouble arises? So the truth of the matter is, if we give in to light persecution, we're certainly going to give in when it becomes more severe. Our Lord taught us that we are going to suffer persecution.

[John Weaver] You remember what he said in John 15 verses 18 through 20, he said to his disciples, if the world hate you, You know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were off the world, the world would love its own, but because you're not of the world and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hated you. Then he says this, remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord.

[John Weaver] If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they've kept my word, then they'll keep your words as well. And it was the apostle Paul in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 12 said this, yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. So we should not be surprised at persecution. We should understand that anytime we enter into what you would call mild or moderate persecution, We might as well get set and get ready because it will probably be amped up and lead to a far more severe persecution. Secondly, I want you to understand this, that oftentimes the ungodly understand a biblical principle far better than do the godly.

[John Weaver] What am I talking about? Look at verse one again. of Acts 12.

[John Weaver] Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John with a sword. He vexed certain of the church. It was not everyone in the church. Certain ones. Why would he go after James? Because James was the leader of the church at Jerusalem. Here's the principle, strike the head and it's over with. Hmm. And this is what Herod is thinking. If I'll kill James and kill these other leaders, I'll be through with this Christian business.

[John Weaver] And these Christians will be out and gone and done away with. It's just that simple. Now. This principle is clearly seen in reference to our Lord. I'm going to give you a quote from Zechariah chapter 13 in verse seven, and our Lord quotes this passage twice in the New Testament. Here's what Zechariah 13 verse 7 says, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts, smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones. What's he saying? Smite the shepherd. Once you kill him, I can just gather everything that he owned into my own hands. They're mine. Did you know our Lord quoted this twice? Matthew 26, verse 31, Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended of me this night, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. He said it again in Mark 14 in verse 27. And Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

[John Weaver] Now this truth is applicable in any tyrannical situation. I find it interesting that so many people get so aggravated and so upset with what you and I would call the local entities that always proffer this excuse, well, I'm just doing my job. Well, as reprehensible as someone is who would do their job, which is contrary to the constitution, contrary to the Bible, they're not the real problem. The real problem are those who are giving orders for those local entities to do what they are doing.

[John Weaver] In other words, it's the head that needs to be severed. That's exactly what Herod understood. He understood the ones directing and giving the orders are the problem. And thus he sought to destroy the head of the church.

[John Weaver] Third, I want you to notice this, that usually persecution is at the behest of and the benefit of a certain group. Look in your Bibles to verse three. And because he, Herod, saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Ah, now when he saw that it pleased the Jews. May I remind you that anytime you see this phrase, the Jews, it does not refer to everyone in the tribe of Judah. Neither does it refer to everyone who happens to live in the land of Judea. Sometimes this little phrase, the Jews, refers only to the rulers. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts 28, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. Acts 28 and verse 17. Watch this very closely. Acts 28 verse 17, Paul is in Rome at his own hired house. The Bible says in verse 17, it came to pass that after three days, Paul called the chief of the Jews together. Now there is a phrase that refers just to the rulers. He called the chief of the Jews together.

[John Weaver] And when they were come together, he said unto them, men and brethren, though I've committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers. Yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. Now watch. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar.

[John Weaver] Not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. Now, notice he said when the Jews speak against it. Well, if you want to know who the Jews were, go back to Acts 24, because here is where the apostle Paul had to appeal to Caesar. Look in Acts chapter 24. Notice if you would, verse one, Acts 24, verse one. And after five days, Ananias, the high priest, descended with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullius, who informed the governor against Paul. So here we have Ananias, the high priest, the elders, and one Tertullius. Skip down to verse nine. And the Jews ascended, saying that these things were so. What Jews? The ones that were just mentioned in verse one. Read the context. Because Tertullius makes his oration. And then he says in verse nine, that the Jews assented saying these things were so. So it refers back to verse 24, which would be Ananias and the elders. Because Tertullius is the one who's speaking. I don't know if you remember it or not, but I did five messages on Jews, Judaism, and Christianity.

[John Weaver] And one of those messages, I took the entire message to demonstrate this phrase, the Jews, oftentimes refers just to the rulers. So here it is. The Jews probably requested. And we're pleased with what Herod had done. And obviously now rulers without a conscience, rulers without biblical convictions will always defer to a group that will enhance and promote and prosper their position of usurped authority. So when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he said, I'll take Peter as well. So you have the fury of the tyrant when he murders James and captures Peter.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I want you to see in this passage the failure of a tyrant. The interesting thing is this. Although a tyrant is a usurper and claims power that he does not have, He cannot always succeed. He does not always accomplish that which he sets out to do. So look, if you would please, in verse four. And when he had apprehended him, that is Peter, he put him in prison and delivered him to four Quartanians of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. But Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

[John Weaver] And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. And the angel said to him, gird thyself and bind on my sandals. And so he did. And he said to him, cast thy garment about me, about thee, and followed me." Now, Peter escapes.

[John Weaver] He does not suffer the consequences that James suffered. Undoubtedly, Herod had probably heard of Peter's previous escape from prison in Acts chapter five. There he was in prison, but the angel went and opened the door and said, go proclaim all the words of this life. And they found Peter out preaching the next day. So Herod is going to make sure that he does not escape. And so the Bible says that he is now has four quartanians of soldiers. So if you'll notice in the context, There were two soldiers that were chained to Peter, one on each side of him. There were two soldiers standing guard out front. That's four. But the Bible says four quartenians, four times four is 16. So that meant that these soldiers then rotated in six hour shifts. So there was never a time when Peter was without four soldiers. Two he was chained to, and two was guarding the door just in case somehow he slipped out of those chains and got to the door.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just say that there are some things in this passage that I find not only very interesting, but very humorous as well. The first one is this, look in verses six and seven. When Herod would have brought him forth the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. Now, I want you to note, first of all, that a light shined in the prison. The light did not awaken Peter.

[John Weaver] I don't know about you, but usually if a light comes on in the room or next room, it usually wakes me up. But this light was a supernatural light and it didn't wake him up. The angel had to smite him on the side to wake him up. Please remember, here's a man that's about to be executed. He's waiting for his head to be cut off like James. And he's sleeping so soundly that the angel has to slap him on the side and say, Get up!

[John Weaver] What's wrong with you, boy? Stop and think about this. Most Christians cannot even sleep through a thunderstorm. And here's a man about to be executed, and he's sleeping like a baby. And the angel has to smite him and tell him to get up and of course he gets up the chains fall off they walk out The gate opens to them of his own accord and he goes to John Mark's house where all the disciples are gathered together now I want you to note the second thing that is rather humorous look in verses 13 and 14 He goes there to John Mark's house and Verse 13, 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 up the gate for gladness, but ran in and told how Peter stood without the gate. Now, think about this. Here Peter is. He's already escaped the prison. He's walked out the main gate. He's gone to the house. He's knocking on the door. And when Rhoda hears his voice, she gets excited and turns around and runs back to tell everybody that Peter's at the gate.

[John Weaver] He just escaped out of prison. She leaves him outside standing where anybody or everybody might could see him who happened to be up at that particular time. Yeah, not not come on in. Let me hide you. You know, come on. Let me give you a secret place. No, no. Just leaves him standing. And the third thing that is absolutely astounding is the Christians who were praying for Peter did not believe their prayers were answered.

[John Weaver] Look, if you would please, at verse five first. Acts chapter 12, verse five, Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church under God for him. So the church is praying, God deliver him, God deliver him. Look in verse 15, Rhoda runs back in to tell them. And they said unto her, when she said, Peter's at the gate, they said unto her, thou art mad.

[John Weaver] But she constantly affirmed that it was so. And they said, it is his angel or his ghost. Note, if you would, but Peter continued knocking and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Isn't this amazing? You know, this is exactly the way Christians are. We pray and ask for something and then when God gives it to us, we don't even believe it. We ask God for a miracle and then we don't believe that God has given us the miracle.

[John Weaver] When it happens, when it appears. So obviously, God sovereignly, powerfully, miraculously, and marvelously delivered Peter from death. Now, here's a question. It probably is already entered into your mind. So here it is. If God miraculously and marvelously delivered Peter out of prison and allowed Peter to escape the hands of Herod, Why did he not do the same for James? Why was James executed and Peter was not executed? Here's the answer. God has not only ordained the day of our birth. He has also ordained the day of our death. and also the way in which we are going to die. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] Job chapter 14 verses 1 through 5. Man that is born of woman is a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and raise me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of the unclean, not one? One, listen carefully, seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou has appointed his bounds that he cannot pass. Did you hear that? Seeing his days are numbered, thou has appointed his months and you've appointed his bounds that he cannot pass. You're not going to live one second past your time appointed.

[John Weaver] And you are going to die in exactly the same way that God has ordained for you to die. God had ordained James to die by the hand of Herod. He did not ordain for Peter to have his head cut off. Why? If you look back in your Bibles to John 21, John 21, you will see what our Lord told Peter as to how he was going to die. John 21, notice if you would please verses 18 and 19. Our Lord is talking to Peter, John 21, verse 18.

[John Weaver] And he says, verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou was young, Now girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest. For thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee, whither thou wouldest not. This spanky signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, follow me. So Peter was to be executed by crucifixion. He was to be killed by crucifixion. In fact, tradition says he was crucified upside down because he did not believe himself worthy to be crucified in the manner of Jesus Christ was crucified. So God had ordained that Peter would suffer death by crucifixion.

[John Weaver] Now, the truth of the matter is this. It was just not Peter's time to die. Neither was it the way in which he was to die. Herod beheaded James, but Peter would die later by crucifixion. And the truth is this, regardless of how a Christian dies, or regardless of the way a Christian dies, the Bible says in Psalm 116 in verse 15, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

[John Weaver] So we need to learn this. Until it is our time to die, we are immortal. We are not going to die until the day and the second that God has ordained that we die. So God spared Peter, but he did not spare James. So you find then not only the fury of the tyrant, but the failing of the tyrant. And now notice, if you would, in verses 20 through 24, the fall of the tyrant. Look in verse 20.

[John Weaver] And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him, notice, and having made blasphemous the king's chamberlain, their friend desired peace because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day, Herod, a radiant royal apparel, set upon his throne and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying it is the voice of a god and not of a man. And immediately the angel Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied.

[John Weaver] Here is something that is very, very reassuring. And that is this. Every tyrant shall fall, even the petty tyrants. We normally remember The big tyrants, like I mentioned, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, all of these people, Stalin. But we have a host of petty tyrants as well. And there's an interesting passage in Psalm 82, and I don't have time to explain it, but let me read verses six and seven, where he said, I said that you were gods and all of you, the children of the Most High, listen, but you shall die like men.

[John Weaver] You claim to be a god. God says, I'm going to show you something. You're not a God and you're going to die just like a man.

[John Weaver] Now, Herod's death is very revealing in one sense of the word. It pictures for us the fall and destruction of these tyrants who love to play God and like to think that they are God. You remember that passage in Isaiah 42 in verse 8, where God says, I'm the Lord. That is my name. My glory will I not share with another. Neither will I give my praise to raven images.

[John Weaver] Now here's what had happened. Herod was upset with these people. Their country was nourished by the king. So they wanted to get back in good graces. And so they made Blastus the king's chamberlain, their friend. How did they do that? Probably with a bribe. And so Blastus then prevails upon Herod and Herod comes and gives an oration unto them seated upon his throne. Now, Josephus says that Herod had on a very splendid robe, which was woven tightly of silver, and it glittered brilliantly in the sun as he gave this oration so when the people heard this oration they began to praise him and said it's the voice of a god and not a man why in the world would somebody be so stupid as to say it's the voice of a god and not a man well you've got to remember If they had gotten plenty of goods from him, just simply as a man, as a king, now they're proclaiming him a God. Maybe they'll get more from him.

[John Weaver] They were on the dole. They were on the take. They wanted everything they could get. So now they're ascribing Godhood to this wicked murderer. Here's Herod's sin. Pride. He stole the honor and glory that belonged only to God. He gloried in their praise, in their admiration, in their adulation. He was lifted up. He took God's glory. And the Bible says immediately, instantly, the angel of the Lord smote him.

[John Weaver] And he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. Now the word for worms is the word skolex, which literally means a worm. And it means to be worm eaten. It is true that when we die, worms will devour our body. But they devoured Herod while he was alive. I cannot imagine The pain just from the gnawing and the chewing of worms on his entrails and on his organs while he was alive. They literally ate him to death. Now listen carefully. The temporary judgment upon Herod was only emblematical of the eternal judgment that awaited him. Did you know three times in scripture, three times in scripture, eternal punishment is described as, listen carefully, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Probably the word worm there might refer to the conscience, but still, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched, all who play God All who want to steal God's honor and God's glory will suffer the fate of a tyrant. God will judge them.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications and try to tie it together. The first one is this. Think about this. God delights in bringing down proud men, and He delights in bringing them down in mortifying ways, embarrassing ways, humiliating ways. Pharaoh was plagued with lice and flies Ephraim was consumed as a moth and Herod was eaten of worms. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 5 listen to this Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to God though hand be joined in hand. He shall not be unpunished Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination and the word abomination means a stench in God's nostrils. I Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination to God. And though hand joined in hand doesn't matter who supports whom. He shall not be unpunished.

[John Weaver] You remember what Debbie and Ezra. did in Daniel 4, when he lifted up his himself in pride and said, is this not great Babylon, which I have built for my majesty and mine honor? And God brought him down and made him eat grasses and oxen for seven years. And finally, in Daniel 4 and verse 37, Nebuchadnezzar confessed, and those that walk in pride, he's able to abase. God brought him down.

[John Weaver] Here's the second thing you need to take note of. God does not even need to raise his mighty hand to bring down the wicked. You know, people are so stupid as to stand up and try to challenge God. Like, God, I dare you. I challenge you. You know, and they expect God somehow to supernaturally slap them. No, no, God doesn't have to do that. Just send a little worm, a little germ, a little virus. That'll take care of them.

[John Weaver] I mean, that's what he did for Herod. God is in absolute and sovereign control. He does not need to do anything except that which he pleases and whatever he pleases will accomplish his purpose.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to see something else. raised his hand to vex certain of the church. Look what happens in verse 24. Look at it. But the word of God grew and multiplied. Persecution is not going to stop the word of God. Persecution is not going to stop the kingdom of God. Persecution is not going to stop The children of God. I would imagine when Herod was taken out of the way, yes, the persecution stopped for a while, that is for sure. I want to tell you, men down through the centuries have thought they have destroyed Christianity.

[John Weaver] Diocletian was one of them. Voltaire, the French infidel, was another one. A Voltaire made this prediction in 1776. He said, 100 years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker. So he said, within a hundred years of my death, the Bible will be extinct. Christianity will be gone. I want you to listen. I'm reading this. In August, 1836, only 58 years after Voltaire's death, Reverend William Ackworth of the British and Foreign Bible Society saw with his own eyes Voltaire's former residence in Geneva, Switzerland being used as a repository for Bibles and religious tracts. The house in that time was occupied by Colonel Henry Truchin, who served as the president of the Evangelical Society of Geneva from 1834 to 1839. Now listen, let it also be noted only 16 years after Voltaire's death in 1794, the presence of the Bible began making inroads in the town where he had spent the last 18 years of his life, Fernie, France. On the very printing presses which Voltaire employed to print his irreverent works was used to print editions of the Bible and which were printed on paper that had been especially made for a superior edition of Voltaire's works.

[John Weaver] The Voltaire project failed and the paper was bought and devoted to a better purpose than printing Bibles. Does God mock the tyrants? Of course. Does God mock the infidels? Of course. Although we may have tyranny, tyranny cannot and will not prevail because God is on the throne. And so all of our great tyrants and all of our petty tyrants need to be aware of the judgment that awaits them.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You, Father, that Your Word will increase and multiply regardless of persecution, regardless of tyranny. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. And may we not fear what Your divine providence bring our ways. brings our way. But Lord, may we submit to Thee and honor Thee and all that we say and do in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

The Rise And Fall Of A Tyrant

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	DDnlA6lQvNY
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-07-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 13
Source Timed Segments	71

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Definition of Tyranny

Weaver introduces Acts 12 and defines tyranny as the unlawful use of lawful authority, noting that tyrants can be cruel or benevolent but always rule without God.

And I'm just going to read a few verses. I wish I had time to read the entire chapter, but it'll be Acts chapter 12. And the title of the message is "The Rise and Fall of a Tyrant." So notice if you would Acts chapter 12, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Acts 12:1-2

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter. And then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter or Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison."

I'm going to stop right there just momentarily. Actually, we're going to be using the entire chapter. But let me just begin by pointing out the fact that tyrants come in all shapes and sizes, as well as degrees in their tyranny. When we think of a tyrant, we normally think of men like Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, certain individuals like that who literally killed or murdered millions of their own people. But we fail to realize oftentimes that there is also a benevolent tyranny. Tyranny does not necessarily have to be cruel and oppressive in order to be tyranny. If you look up the word "tyrant" in a dictionary, you will come up with definitions like these. Listen carefully.

"A sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively and unjustly." Here's a second definition: "Any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically." And then if you look up the word "tyranny," here are two definitions. It says "arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, despotic abuse of authority." And then I like this next one just for the purpose of explanation: "Government by a ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state and use it unfairly and cruelly." Well, the truth of the matter is there is no man that has unlimited power. Only God is sovereign. But the interesting thing is this: I must point out that a tyrant is not necessarily always someone who is cruel and oppressive. A tyrant could also be someone who uses lawful authority unlawfully. So if you just simply look around and look at what is taking place in America today, you're going to find that there is a lot of tyranny that is going to be demonstrated.

Constitutional and Biblical Basis for Lawful Authority

He explains the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause and contrasts democracy with a republic, arguing that rulers become tyrants when they ignore law and God.

Now, whether people agree with the United States Constitution or not, I want to read to you Article 6, paragraph 2, and I want you to listen very carefully to what the United States Constitution says: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." So Article 6, paragraph 2 says this: it doesn't matter what the state constitutions say, if they are in contradiction to the United States Constitution; neither does it matter what laws any states pass. If they're in contradiction to the Constitution of the United States, they would then be null and void.

Now you have to understand this. One may be lawfully elected and he may be given lawful power. But when he uses that lawful power unlawfully, then he becomes a tyrant. He is ruling according to his own dictates. He's ruling according to his own wishes and desires and not according to law. By the way, the difference between a democracy and a republic is very simple. The word "democracy," of course, refers to mob rule. But a republic is supposed to be ruled by law. And we're supposed to have a republic. You remember the person who asked Benjamin Franklin after the Constitutional Convention, "What kind of government have we been given?" His answer was, "A republic, if you can keep it." So in the exact sense then, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself authority without having a right to it, and/or he has been given that authority and then he turns around and uses it unlawfully. So a tyrant then may either be a usurper or he may be one that ignores the law.

Let me give you some illustrations. When Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to invade and conquer the South, it was Claiborne Jackson, who happened to be the governor of Missouri, who responded to Abraham Lincoln. And he said this: "Your request is illegal, unconstitutional, revolutionary, inhuman, diabolical, and cannot be complied with." So he just spelled it out for Lincoln very clearly.

Quotes on Despotism and COVID-19 Tyranny

Weaver cites Supreme Court justices and a Montana representative to illustrate modern tyranny, including pandemic-related overreach.

Now, let me give you a couple of quotes just to set the stage so you can understand where we are before I get to Acts chapter 12. David Davis, who was a Supreme Court justice, left us with these remarkable thoughts on despotism. Listen carefully. He says, and I'm quoting, "The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, under all circumstances." "No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the will of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy and despotism." Did you hear what this Supreme Court justice said? He is saying that no, the Constitution cannot be suspended for any reason. Pandemic or no pandemic. War or no war. It does not matter. Here's another quote by Justice William O. Douglas. He says this:

"Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us? The constitutional theory is that we the people are the sovereigns. The state and federal officials only are agents. We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy as we need not stay docile and quiet." And this decision was Colton v. Kentucky in 1972. And one more quote, this one is by Montana State Representative John Fuller.

And this was in reference to the COVID-19. Right now, he said, and I quote, "We did not vote on this shelter-in-place dictum. Yeah, we did not vote on the shutdown of all non-essential businesses. Hysteria leads to a dismissal of the factual. And the factual analysis of the current Wuhan flu is that many of the policies enacted here in Montana are irrational and insulting." "Does anyone believe that the vulnerable, such as this mid-70s old man"—that's how old he is—"are incapable of taking appropriate precautions on their own without the governor destroying the livelihoods of our fellow Montanians? Does anyone really expect now that a governor has assumed the power to decide who is essential or not, that future governors will not expand on such policies? Increasing dependence on government and passively accepting that some elite somewhere knows best about our welfare is much more dangerous than the Wuhan virus."

"The natural desire to be safe often suppresses the need to be free. But abandoning one's own responsibility to provide for their own safety will result in government tyranny and you will still die." Montana State Representative John Fuller. Well, Rushdoony in one of his books also pointed out that the word "tyrant" basically means one who rules without God. How in the world could he make such a statement? How could a tyrant be simply one who rules without God? Well, listen very carefully to Psalm 75, verses 5 through 7. God says to the rulers, "Lift not up your head on high, speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the south, nor from the west. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and he setteth up another."

Biblical Definition: Ruling Without God

Using Psalm 75, Daniel 2, and Romans 13, he argues that a tyrant is one who rules without submission to God, failing to serve as God's deacon and minister.

So God is the one that puts down rulers and exalts rulers as well. And then Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2 verses 20 and 21: "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." So he says God is the one who removes kings and puts up kings. Now in order to understand that a tyrant is one who rules without God, you must remember the passage in Romans chapter 13. Since the Bible commands everyone to be in submission to the higher authority, there is no higher authority than God. He is the highest. That means whatever position anyone is in, he must be in submission to God. Moreover, may I remind you that God created only three institutions. He created the family, which is a ministry of education; the church, which is a ministry of grace; and civil government, which is a ministry of justice. And since God is the creator of each of these institutions, it necessarily follows that anyone who is in those institutions are answerable and accountable to him. Moreover, when you look in Romans chapter 13, especially verse 4 and verse 6, in that passage in Romans 13, verse 4, the Bible says that rulers are his ministers. He is the minister of God to thee for good. Wow.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:4,6

Well, the word "minister" happens to be the word "diakonos" in the Greek, which is where we get our English word "deacon." And the word "deacon" literally means a servant. So God then appointed civil rulers as his deacons, as his servants. And then he said, "If you do evil, be afraid; for he is the revenger of God. He is the avenger of them that do evil." Guess what? The word "revenger" literally, it's "ekdikos" in the Greek, and it means one that exacts righteousness out of. So why has God created civil rulers? Number one, to be his deacon, his minister, his servant. Number two, to be his exactor of righteousness. And number three, when you get to Romans 13 in verse 6, he again talks about them being ministers, but this time it's a different word. It's the word "leitourgoi," plural, "leitourgos," singular. It's the word "leitourgoi," it's where we get our English word "liturgy" from. What is the liturgy? It's a public worship. So why did God ordain civil rulers? To be his deacons, to be his exactors of righteousness, and to be his public worship.

Obviously, when you have a civil ruler who does not bend the knee to God and bow to God and rule according to God, he is indeed a tyrant. God is the creator. And as creatures, we owe him honor and glory and submission. I love this quote from the Alabama Constitution. Listen to it: "That the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. And when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression." Wow. Wow. A tyrant is not going to recognize God. He's not going to recognize any law. He's not even going to recognize the people. A tyrant is much like that individual in Luke 18 that our Lord described: "There was a certain ruler who feared not God nor regarded man." And so you're going to find a tyrant is one that does not fear God, and consequently has no regard for man.

The Fury of a Tyrant: Herod's Persecution

Herod Agrippa's persecution of the church begins with vexing leaders and escalates to murdering James, illustrating how light persecution progresses to severe.

Now, when we're talking about tyrants, we have an excellent illustration of one in Acts chapter 12. And that is Herod. So I want you to look particularly now at verses 1 and 2. I want you to see the fury of a tyrant. "And now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with a sword." Now, I want you to note the Bible says "now Herod the king." Let me identify this man. This is not Herod the Great who slew the infants at Bethlehem. Neither is it Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. This is Herod Agrippa. He was the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa, like his grandfather, was an Idumean. That's just another word for an Edomite in the Bible. He was an Idumean through his grandfather, Herod the Great, and he was the grandson of Miriam, the Maccabean princess. Obviously now this man had a rather bad heritage. His grandfather murdered babies. His father murdered John the Baptist. I mean, let's put it like this.

Usually wicked rulers always try to outdo the others. And so here Herod the king now is stretching forth his hand, the Bible says, to vex certain in the church. Now, when the Bible says he stretched forth his hands, that means that he's obviously now in fury, going to try to persecute certain individuals. Note, if you would, please. He says, "Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church."

So undoubtedly he began with the leaders, and the word "vexed" indicates that he oppressed, afflicted, harmed, maltreated, and evilly and wickedly attacked them. Now, probably at first it was something like fines and/or confiscation of goods, maybe imprisonment. But then, of course, it led to murder. Now, I want you to know that this is a renewing now and a reviving of persecution. If you look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 8, beginning there with verse 1, you will find the persecution that arose under Saul of Tarsus. Look at it. Acts 8, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:1-3

"And Saul was consenting unto his death"—that is the death of Stephen—"and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. And Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house and

hailing men and women and committed them to prison." So here is Saul then persecuting, arresting and confining everyone that he can.

He hates Christ so much and he hates the truth so much. When you look in Acts chapter 9, I'm not going to go over Saul's conversion, but after he was saved by the grace of God, if you'll look in verse 31, here's what the Bible says after God saved him: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and were multiplied." So after Saul was converted, the churches had rest. In other words, they now began to really multiply through peace. Now, the interesting thing is this persecution under Saul was not just imprisonment. It also oftentimes led to death. If you would look in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10, you will see Paul's own confession of what happened. Acts 26 and verse 10: He says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10

"Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them."

So it's not just Stephen that Paul gave his voice against, but obviously plenty of the saints as well. So Herod then in Acts chapter 12 is beginning to stretch forth his hand in fury.

He undoubtedly begins lightly, but then of course it progresses into murder because he murdered James, the brother of John, with a sword. Now, James was one of the first three apostles. James was with our Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. And now James has the honor of being the first apostle to be martyred for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, before I go any further, there are several truths that we need to grasp right here. First, I want you to understand that milder and lighter persecution usually progresses into heavy and more severe persecution. If you buckle under when persecution is light and mild, what will you do when it is rough and severe? I want to show you this principle. I won't get a whole Acts 12, but look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse 5. I want you to see what Jeremiah asked. Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse 5. Look at it. Jeremiah 12 and verse 5. Jeremiah sets this principle out very clearly for us. He asked, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace where thou trustest, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?" So he said, if you can't run with the footmen, you're not going to be expected to run with the horses.

And if you can't stand in the land of peace when everything is hunky-dory, so to speak, he said, what's going to happen in the swelling of the Jordan? What's going to happen when real tribulation, real trouble arises? So the truth of the matter is, if we give in to light persecution, we're certainly going to give in when it becomes more severe. Our Lord taught us that we are going to suffer persecution.

Principles of Persecution and the Head of the Church

Weaver explains that tyrants target leaders to scatter the flock, and that persecution often pleases certain groups, as Herod acted to please the Jewish rulers.

You remember what he said in John 15 verses 18 through 20. He said to his disciples, "If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you're not of the world and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Then he says this: "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord." "If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they've kept my word, then they'll keep your words as well." And it was the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12 said this:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

So we should not be surprised at persecution. We should understand that anytime we enter into what you would call mild or moderate persecution, we might as well get set and get ready because it will probably be amped up and lead to a far more severe persecution. Secondly, I want you to understand this, that oftentimes the ungodly understand a biblical principle far better than do the godly.

What am I talking about? Look at verse 1 again of Acts 12. "Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with a sword." He vexed certain of the church. It was not everyone in the church. Certain ones. Why would he go after James? Because James was the leader of the church at Jerusalem. Here's the principle: strike the head and it's over with. Hmm. And this is what Herod is thinking. If I'll kill James and kill these other leaders, I'll be through with this Christian business.

And these Christians will be out and gone and done away with. It's just that simple. Now, this principle is clearly seen in reference to our Lord. I'm going to give you a quote from Zechariah chapter 13 in verse 7, and our Lord quotes this passage twice in the New Testament. Here's what Zechariah 13 verse 7 says:

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones."

What's he saying? Smite the shepherd. Once you kill him, I can just gather everything that he owned into my own hands. They're mine. Did you know our Lord quoted this twice? Matthew 26, verse 31:

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

He said it again in Mark 14 in verse 27:

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"And Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."

Now this truth is applicable in any tyrannical situation. I find it interesting that so many people get so aggravated and so upset with what you and I would call the local entities that always proffer this excuse, "Well, I'm just doing my job." Well, as reprehensible as someone is who would do their job, which is contrary to the Constitution, contrary to the Bible, they're not the real problem. The real problem are those who are giving orders for those local entities to do what they are doing. In other words, it's the head that needs to be severed. That's exactly what Herod understood. He understood the ones directing and giving the orders are the problem. And thus he sought to destroy the head of the church.

Third, I want you to notice this, that usually persecution is at the behest of and the benefit of a certain group. Look in your Bibles to verse 3: "And because he"—Herod—"saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also." Ah, now when he saw that it pleased the Jews. May I remind you that anytime you see this phrase "the Jews," it does not refer to everyone in the tribe of Judah. Neither does it refer to everyone who happens to live in the land of Judea. Sometimes this little phrase "the Jews" refers only to the rulers. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts 28, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. Acts 28 and verse 17. Watch this very closely. Acts 28 verse 17, Paul is in Rome at his own hired house. The Bible says in verse 17, "And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together." Now there is a phrase that refers just to the rulers. He called the chief of the Jews together.

"And when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I've committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. Now watch. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar." "Not that I had ought to accuse my nation of." Now, notice he said "when the Jews spake against it." Well, if you want to know who the Jews were, go back to Acts 24, because here is where the apostle Paul had to appeal to Caesar. Look in Acts chapter 24. Notice if you would, verse 1, Acts 24, verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul." So here we have Ananias, the high priest, the elders, and one Tertullus. Skip down to verse 9: "And the Jews assented, saying that these things were so." What Jews? The ones that were just mentioned in verse 1. Read the context. Because Tertullus makes his oration. And then he says in verse 9 that the Jews assented saying these things were so. So it refers back to verse 24, which would be Ananias and the elders. Because Tertullus is the one who's speaking. I don't know if you remember it or not, but I did five messages on "Jews, Judaism, and Christianity."

And one of those messages, I took the entire message to demonstrate this phrase "the Jews" oftentimes refers just to the rulers. So here it is. The Jews probably requested and were pleased with what Herod had done. And obviously now rulers without a conscience, rulers without biblical convictions will always defer to a group that will enhance and promote and prosper their position of usurped authority. So when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he said, "I'll take Peter as well." So you have the fury of the tyrant when he murders James and captures Peter.

The Failure of a Tyrant: Peter's Miraculous Escape

Despite heavy guard, Peter is miraculously freed by an angel while the church prays, showing that tyrants cannot thwart God's sovereign plan.

Secondly, I want you to see in this passage the failure of a tyrant. The interesting thing is this: although a tyrant is a usurper and claims power that he does not have, he cannot always succeed. He does not always accomplish that which he sets out to do. So look, if you would please, in verse 4: "And when he had apprehended him"—that is Peter—"he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. But Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison."

Scripture Reading — Acts 12:6-11

"And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he said to him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me."

Now, Peter escapes. He does not suffer the consequences that James suffered. Undoubtedly, Herod had probably heard of Peter's previous escape from prison in Acts chapter 5. There he was in prison, but the angel went and opened the door and said, "Go proclaim all the words of this life." And they found Peter out preaching the next day. So Herod is going to make sure that he does not escape. And so the Bible says that he now has four quaternions of soldiers. So if you'll notice in the context, there were two soldiers that were chained to Peter, one on each side of him. There were two soldiers standing guard out front. That's four. But the Bible says four quaternions, four times four is 16. So that meant that these soldiers then rotated in six-hour shifts. So there was never a time when Peter was without four soldiers. Two he was chained to, and two were guarding the door just in case somehow he slipped out of those chains and got to the door.

Now, let me just say that there are some things in this passage that I find not only very interesting, but very humorous as well. The first one is this, look in verses 6 and 7: "When Herod would have brought him forth the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands." Now, I want you to note, first of all, that a light shined in the prison. The light did not awaken Peter. I don't know about you, but usually if a light comes on in the room or next room, it usually wakes me up. But this light was a supernatural light and it didn't wake him up. The angel had to smite him on the side to wake him up. Please remember, here's a man that's about to be executed. He's waiting for his head to be cut off like James. And he's sleeping so soundly that the angel has to slap him on the side and say, "Get up!"

What's wrong with you, boy? Stop and think about this. Most Christians cannot even sleep through a thunderstorm. And here's a man about to be executed, and he's sleeping like a baby. And the angel has to smite him and tell him to get up. And of course he gets up, the chains fall off, they walk out, the gate opens to them of his own accord, and he goes to John Mark's house where all the disciples are gathered together. Now I want you to note the second thing that is rather humorous. Look in verses 13 and 14. He goes there to John Mark's house, and verse 13: "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 without the gate." Now, think about this. Here Peter is. He's already escaped the prison. He's walked out the main gate. He's gone to the house. He's knocking on the door. And when Rhoda hears his voice, she gets excited and turns around and runs back to tell everybody that Peter's at the gate.

He just escaped out of prison. She leaves him outside standing where anybody or everybody might could see him who happened to be up at that particular time. Yeah, not "Come on in. Let me hide you." You know, "Come on. Let me give you a secret place." No, no. Just leaves him standing. And the third thing that is absolutely astounding is the Christians who were praying for Peter did not believe their prayers were answered.

Look, if you would please, at verse 5 first. Acts chapter 12, verse 5: "Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." So the church is praying, "God deliver him, God deliver him." Look in verse 15, Rhoda runs back in to tell them. And they said unto her, when she said, "Peter's at the gate," they said unto her, "Thou art mad." But she constantly affirmed that it was so. And they said, "It is his angel" or his ghost. Note, if you would, "But Peter continued knocking and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished." Isn't this amazing? You know, this is exactly the way Christians are. We pray and ask for something and then when God gives it to us, we don't even believe it. We ask God for a miracle and then we don't believe that God has given us the miracle.

When it happens, when it appears. So obviously, God sovereignly, powerfully, miraculously, and marvelously delivered Peter from death. Now, here's a question. It probably is already entered into your mind. So here it is. If God miraculously and marvelously delivered Peter out of prison and allowed Peter to escape the hands of Herod, why did he not do the same for James? Why was James executed and Peter was not executed? Here's the answer. God has not only ordained the day of our birth. He has also ordained the day of our death, and also the way in which we are going to die. Listen carefully.

God's Sovereignty Over Life and Death

Weaver explains that James died and Peter lived because God ordains the day and manner of death, citing Job 14 and John 21.

Job chapter 14 verses 1 through 5: "Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of the unclean? Not one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." Did you hear that? "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." You're not going to live one second past your time appointed.

And you are going to die in exactly the same way that God has ordained for you to die. God had ordained James to die by the hand of Herod. He did not ordain for Peter to have his head cut off. Why? If you look back in your Bibles to John 21, John 21, you will see what our Lord told Peter as to how he was going to die. John 21, notice if you would please verses 18 and 19. Our Lord is talking to Peter, John 21, verse 18.

And he says, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, Follow me." So Peter was to be executed by crucifixion. He was to be killed by crucifixion. In fact, tradition says he was crucified upside down because he did not believe himself worthy to be crucified in the manner Jesus Christ was crucified. So God had ordained that Peter would suffer death by crucifixion.

Now, the truth of the matter is this. It was just not Peter's time to die. Neither was it the way in which he was to die. Herod beheaded James, but Peter would die later by crucifixion. And the truth is this, regardless of how a Christian dies, or regardless of the way a Christian dies, the Bible says in Psalm 116 in verse 15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

So we need to learn this. Until it is our time to die, we are immortal. We are not going to die until the day and the second that God has ordained that we die. So God spared Peter, but he did not spare James. So you find then not only the fury of the tyrant, but the failing of the tyrant. And now notice, if you would, in verses 20 through 24, the fall of the tyrant. Look in verse 20.

The Fall of a Tyrant: Herod's Death

Herod accepts divine praise and is immediately struck by an angel, eaten by worms, and dies, demonstrating God's judgment on pride.

"And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied." Here is something that is very, very reassuring. And that is this: every tyrant shall fall, even the petty tyrants. We normally remember the big tyrants, like I mentioned, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, all of these people, Stalin. But we have a host of petty tyrants as well. And there's an interesting passage in Psalm 82, and I don't have time to explain it, but let me read verses 6 and 7, where he said, "I said that you were gods, and all of you the children of the Most High. But you shall die like men."

You claim to be a god. God says, "I'm going to show you something. You're not a god and you're going to die just like a man." Now, Herod's death is very revealing in one sense of the word. It pictures for us the fall and destruction of these tyrants who love to play God and like to think that they are God. You remember that passage in Isaiah 42 in verse 8, where God says, "I am the Lord: that is my name: my glory will I not share with another, neither my praise to graven images."

Now here's what had happened. Herod was upset with these people. Their country was nourished by the king. So they wanted to get back in good graces. And so they made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend. How did they do that? Probably with a bribe. And so Blastus then prevails upon Herod and Herod comes and gives an oration unto them seated upon his throne. Now, Josephus says that Herod had on a very splendid robe, which was woven tightly of silver, and it glittered brilliantly in the sun as he gave this oration. So when the people heard this oration, they began to praise him and said, "It's the voice of a god and not a man." Why in the world would somebody be so stupid as to say, "It's the voice of a god and not a man"? Well, you've got to remember, if they had gotten plenty of goods from him just simply as a man, as a king, now they're proclaiming him a god. Maybe they'll get more from him.

They were on the dole. They were on the take. They wanted everything they could get. So now they're ascribing godhood to this wicked murderer. Here's Herod's sin: pride. He stole the honor and glory that belonged only to God. He gloried in their praise, in their admiration, in their adulation. He was lifted up. He took God's glory. And the Bible says immediately, instantly, the angel of the Lord smote him.

And he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. Now the word for "worms" is the word "skolex," which literally means a worm. And it means to be worm-eaten. It is true that when we die, worms will devour our body. But they devoured Herod while he was alive. I cannot imagine the pain just from the gnawing and the chewing of worms on his entrails and on his organs while he was alive. They literally ate him to death. Now listen carefully. The temporary judgment upon Herod was only emblematical of the eternal judgment that awaited him. Did you know three times in scripture, three times in scripture, eternal punishment is described as, listen carefully, "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." Probably the word "worm" there might refer to the conscience, but still, "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched," all who play God, all who want to steal God's honor and God's glory will suffer the fate of a tyrant. God will judge them.

Applications: God Humbles the Proud and His Word Prevails

Weaver applies the lesson that God delights in humbling the proud, uses small means to judge, and ensures His Word grows despite persecution.

Now, let me make some applications and try to tie it together. The first one is this. Think about this. God delights in bringing down proud men, and He delights in bringing them down in mortifying ways, embarrassing ways, humiliating ways. Pharaoh was plagued with lice and flies. Ephraim was consumed as a moth. And Herod was eaten of worms. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 5? Listen to this: "Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to God: though hand be joined in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination, and the word "abomination" means a stench in God's nostrils. Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination to God. And though hand joined in hand, doesn't matter who supports whom, he shall not be unpunished.

You remember what Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel 4, when he lifted up himself in pride and said, "Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for my majesty and mine honor?" And God brought him down and made him eat grass as oxen for seven years. And finally, in Daniel 4 and verse 37, Nebuchadnezzar confessed, "And those that walk in pride, he is able to abase." God brought him down. Here's the second thing you need to take note of. God does not even need to raise his mighty hand to bring down the wicked. You know, people are so stupid as to stand up and try to challenge God. Like, "God, I dare you. I challenge you." You know, and they expect God somehow to supernaturally slap them. No, no, God doesn't have to do that. Just send a little worm, a little germ, a little virus. That'll take care of them.

I mean, that's what he did for Herod. God is in absolute and sovereign control. He does not need to do anything except that which he pleases, and whatever he pleases will accomplish his purpose. Now, I want you to see something else. Herod raised his hand to vex certain of the church. Look what happens in verse 24. Look at it: "But the word of God grew and multiplied." Persecution is not going to stop the word of God. Persecution is not going to stop the kingdom of God. Persecution is not going to stop the children of God. I would imagine when Herod was taken out of the way, yes, the persecution stopped for a while, that is for sure. I want to tell you, men down through the centuries have thought they have destroyed Christianity.

Diocletian was one of them. Voltaire, the French infidel, was another one. Voltaire made this prediction in 1776. He said, "One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker." So he said, within a hundred years of my death, the Bible will be extinct. Christianity will be gone. I want you to listen. I'm reading this. In August 1836, only 58 years after Voltaire's death, Reverend William Ackworth of the British and Foreign Bible Society saw with his own eyes Voltaire's former residence in Geneva, Switzerland being used as a repository for Bibles and religious tracts. The house at that time was occupied by Colonel Henry Truchin, who served as the president of the Evangelical Society of Geneva from 1834 to 1839. Now listen, let it also be noted only 16 years after Voltaire's death in 1794, the presence of the Bible began making inroads in the town where he had spent the last 18 years of his life, Ferney, France. On the very printing presses which Voltaire employed to print his irreverent works was used to print editions of the Bible, and which were printed on paper that had been especially made for a superior edition of Voltaire's works.

The Voltaire project failed and the paper was bought and devoted to a better purpose than printing Bibles. Does God mock the tyrants? Of course. Does God mock the infidels? Of course. Although we may have tyranny, tyranny cannot and will not prevail because God is on the throne. And so all of our great tyrants and all of our petty tyrants need to be aware of the judgment that awaits them.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You, Father, that Your Word will increase and multiply regardless of persecution, regardless of tyranny. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. And may we not fear what Your divine providence brings our way. But Lord, may we submit to Thee and honor Thee in all that we say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Definition of Tyranny

Summary: Tyranny is the unlawful use of lawful authority; a tyrant rules without submission to God and law.

Evidence: Weaver defines tyranny using dictionary definitions and explains that a tyrant may be a usurper or one who ignores the law, emphasizing that only God is sovereign.

God's Sovereignty Over Rulers

Summary: God alone raises up and puts down rulers; all authority is delegated and accountable to Him.

Evidence: Citing Psalm 75:5-7 and Daniel 2:20-21, Weaver argues that God removes and sets up kings, and rulers are His ministers.

Persecution and Suffering

Summary: Persecution is inevitable for believers and often escalates from mild to severe.

Evidence: Weaver references John 15:18-20 and 2 Timothy 3:12, and uses Jeremiah 12:5 to show that if we fail under light persecution, we will not stand under severe.

God's Deliverance and Sovereignty in Death

Summary: God sovereignly delivers some from death and ordains the time and manner of death for all.

Evidence: Peter's escape and James's martyrdom illustrate that God determines the bounds of our days (Job 14:5) and the manner of death (John 21:18-19).

Judgment on Pride

Summary: God actively humbles the proud and judges those who steal His glory.

Evidence: Herod's death by worms for accepting divine praise exemplifies Proverbs 16:5 and Nebuchadnezzar's humbling in Daniel 4.

The Unstoppable Word of God

Summary: Persecution cannot stop the growth of God's Word and kingdom.

Evidence: Acts 12:24 shows the Word grew after Herod's death; Voltaire's failed prediction illustrates God's mockery of tyrants.

Key Arguments

Tyranny is not limited to cruel oppression; it includes any unlawful use of authority.

Summary: Weaver argues that a tyrant can be benevolent but still rule unlawfully, ignoring constitutional and divine law.

Evidence: He cites the U.S. Constitution and states that when lawful power is used unlawfully, the ruler becomes a tyrant.

A tyrant is one who rules without God.

Summary: Since all authority comes from God, rulers who do not submit to Him are tyrants.

Evidence: Romans 13 describes rulers as God's ministers; Psalm 75 and Daniel 2 show God's control over rulers.

Persecution often targets leaders to destroy the movement.

Summary: Herod killed James, the church leader, understanding the principle of striking the shepherd to scatter the sheep.

Evidence: Zechariah 13:7 and its quotation in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27 illustrate this principle.

God's sovereign plan determines who lives and who dies in persecution.

Summary: James was martyred, but Peter was delivered because God had ordained different deaths for them.

Evidence: Job 14:5 shows God appoints our days; John 21:18-19 foretells Peter's crucifixion.

God judges tyrants by humbling their pride, often in humiliating ways.

Summary: Herod's death by worms is a pattern of God's judgment on proud rulers.

Evidence: Proverbs 16:5 says the proud are an abomination; Nebuchadnezzar was made to eat grass.

The Word of God ultimately triumphs over all persecution.

Summary: Despite Herod's efforts, the Word grew and multiplied; history shows the failure of tyrants like Voltaire.

Evidence: Acts 12:24 and the account of Voltaire's house becoming a Bible repository.

Scripture References

Acts 12:1-2

Context: Herod stretches forth his hand to vex the church and kills James.

Acts 12:3-4

Context: Herod imprisons Peter, intending to bring him out after Passover.

Psalm 75:5-7

Context: God puts down one ruler and sets up another.

Daniel 2:20-21

Context: God removes kings and sets up kings.

Romans 13:4,6

Context: Rulers are God's ministers, deacons, and public worshippers.

Proverbs 28:15

Context: A wicked ruler is like a roaring lion and a raging bear.

Acts 8:1-3

Context: Saul's persecution scattered the church.

Acts 9:31

Context: After Saul's conversion, the churches had rest.

Acts 26:10

Context: Paul voted for the death of saints.

Jeremiah 12:5

Context: If you stumble with footmen, how will you contend with horses?

John 15:18-20

Context: The world hates believers because it hated Christ first.

2 Timothy 3:12

Context: All who live godly will suffer persecution.

Zechariah 13:7

Context: Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.

Matthew 26:31

Context: Jesus quotes Zechariah about smiting the shepherd.

Mark 14:27

Context: Jesus again quotes Zechariah about smiting the shepherd.

Acts 12:5

Context: The church prayed without ceasing for Peter.

Acts 12:6-11

Context: An angel frees Peter from prison.

Job 14:1-5

Context: Man's days are determined; God has appointed his bounds.

John 21:18-19

Context: Jesus foretells Peter's death by crucifixion.

Acts 12:20-24

Context: Herod is struck by an angel and eaten of worms; the Word grows.

Historical References

U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 2

Context: Weaver reads the supremacy clause to argue that state laws contrary to the Constitution are void.

Benjamin Franklin's 'A republic, if you can keep it'

Context: Weaver contrasts democracy (mob rule) with a republic (rule of law).

Claiborne Jackson's response to Lincoln

Context: Missouri governor called Lincoln's call for volunteers illegal and unconstitutional.

Supreme Court Justice David Davis on despotism

Context: Davis stated the Constitution cannot be suspended for any exigency.

Justice William O. Douglas, Colton v. Kentucky (1972)

Context: Douglas said the people are sovereigns, officials are agents.

Montana State Representative John Fuller on COVID-19

Context: Fuller criticized shelter-in-place orders as irrational and tyrannical.

Herod Agrippa I

Context: Weaver identifies the Herod of Acts 12 as Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great.

Voltaire's prediction and its failure

Context: Voltaire predicted the Bible's extinction in 100 years; his house later became a Bible repository.

Diocletian's persecution

Context: Mentioned as an example of a tyrant who thought he destroyed Christianity.

Josephus on Herod's death

Context: Weaver references Josephus's description of Herod's silver robe and oration.

Important Quotes

The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, under all circumstances.

Significance: Justice Davis's quote emphasizes the inviolability of the Constitution, supporting Weaver's argument against tyranny.

No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the will of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government.

Significance: This reinforces the idea that constitutional protections cannot be set aside, even in emergencies.

Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?

Significance: Justice Douglas's quote challenges passive acceptance of authority, aligning with the sermon's call to recognize tyranny.

The natural desire to be safe often suppresses the need to be free. But abandoning one's own responsibility to provide for their own safety will result in government tyranny and you will still die.

Significance: Fuller's statement warns that trading freedom for safety leads to tyranny, a key application in the sermon.

Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to God: though hand be joined in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Significance: This verse underscores God's judgment on pride, central to the fall of Herod and all tyrants.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Significance: Acts 12:24 is the triumphant conclusion that God's Word prevails despite persecution.

Discussion Questions

How does Weaver's definition of tyranny as 'the unlawful use of lawful authority' apply to current events?

Context: Weaver discusses constitutional limits and modern examples of governmental overreach.

In what ways can Christians discern when civil rulers are acting as God's ministers versus when they become tyrants?

Context: The sermon explains Romans 13 and the role of rulers as God's deacons.

Why does God allow some believers to be martyred while miraculously delivering others?

Context: Weaver contrasts the deaths of James and Peter, citing God's sovereign ordination of death.

How should the church respond when prayers seem unanswered, as in the case of Peter's release?

Context: The church prayed for Peter but was astonished when he was freed.

What does Herod's death by worms teach us about God's judgment on pride?

Context: Weaver connects Herod's fate to the eternal judgment described as 'where the worm dieth not.'

How can believers maintain confidence in the growth of God's Word amid increasing persecution?

Context: The sermon concludes with Acts 12:24 and the example of Voltaire's failed prediction.

Applications

Recognize and resist tyranny

Summary: Believers should understand that tyranny can be benevolent and often arises from the unlawful use of lawful authority, and they should not passively accept it.

Evidence: Weaver defines tyranny broadly and cites constitutional principles and modern examples to urge discernment.

Submit to God's sovereignty in persecution

Summary: Christians should trust God's plan for life and death, knowing that He ordains the time and manner of our departure.

Evidence: The contrasting fates of James and Peter illustrate that God's will determines outcomes, not tyrants.

Pray persistently and believe God answers

Summary: The church prayed without ceasing for Peter, yet struggled to believe when he was delivered; believers should pray in faith.

Evidence: Acts 12:5 and the humorous account of Rhoda and the praying church show the need for expectant faith.

Guard against pride

Summary: Pride is an abomination to God and leads to humiliating judgment, as seen in Herod's death.

Evidence: Proverbs 16:5 and the examples of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Herod warn against stealing God's glory.

Trust in the unstoppable advance of God's Word

Summary: Despite persecution and tyrants, the Word of God will grow and multiply; believers should not fear.

Evidence: Acts 12:24 and the historical failure of Voltaire's prediction demonstrate God's triumph.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:26:26Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T02:54:21Z

Clean Transcript

The Rise And Fall Of A Tyrant

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

And I'm just going to read a few verses. I wish I had time to read the entire chapter, but it'll be Acts chapter 12. And the title of the message is "The Rise and Fall of a Tyrant." So notice if you would Acts chapter 12, beginning with verse 1.
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"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter. And then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter or Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison."
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I'm going to stop right there just momentarily. Actually, we're going to be using the entire chapter. But let me just begin by pointing out the fact that tyrants come in all shapes and sizes, as well as degrees in their tyranny. When we think of a tyrant, we normally think of men like Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, certain individuals like that who literally killed or murdered millions of their own people. But we fail to realize oftentimes that there is also a benevolent tyranny. Tyranny does not necessarily have to be cruel and oppressive in order to be tyranny. If you look up the word "tyrant" in a dictionary, you will come up with definitions like these. Listen carefully.
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"A sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively and unjustly." Here's a second definition: "Any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically." And then if you look up the word "tyranny," here are two definitions. It says "arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, despotic abuse of authority." And then I like this next one just for the purpose of explanation: "Government by a ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state and use it unfairly and cruelly."
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Well, the truth of the matter is there is no man that has unlimited power. Only God is sovereign. But the interesting thing is this: I must point out that a tyrant is not necessarily always someone who is cruel and oppressive. A tyrant could also be someone who uses lawful authority unlawfully. So if you just simply look around and look at what is taking place in America today, you're going to find that there is a lot of tyranny that is going to be demonstrated.
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Now, whether people agree with the United States Constitution or not, I want to read to you Article 6, paragraph 2, and I want you to listen very carefully to what the United States Constitution says: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." So Article 6, paragraph 2 says this: it doesn't matter what the state constitutions say, if they are in contradiction to the United States Constitution; neither does it matter what laws any states pass. If they're in contradiction to the Constitution of the United States, they would then be null and void.
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Now you have to understand this. One may be lawfully elected and he may be given lawful power. But when he uses that lawful power unlawfully, then he becomes a tyrant. He is ruling according to his own dictates. He's ruling according to his own wishes and desires and not according to law. By the way, the difference between a democracy and a republic is very simple. The word "democracy," of course, refers to mob rule. But a republic is supposed to be ruled by law. And we're supposed to have a republic. You remember the person who asked Benjamin Franklin after the Constitutional Convention, "What kind of government have we been given?" His answer was, "A republic, if you can keep it." So in the exact sense then, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself authority without having a right to it, and/or he has been given that authority and then he turns around and uses it unlawfully. So a tyrant then may either be a usurper or he may be one that ignores the law.
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Let me give you some illustrations. When Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to invade and conquer the South, it was Claiborne Jackson, who happened to be the governor of Missouri, who responded to Abraham Lincoln. And he said this: "Your request is illegal, unconstitutional, revolutionary, inhuman, diabolical, and cannot be complied with." So he just spelled it out for Lincoln very clearly.
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Now, let me give you a couple of quotes just to set the stage so you can understand where we are before I get to Acts chapter 12. David Davis, who was a Supreme Court justice, left us with these remarkable thoughts on despotism. Listen carefully. He says, and I'm quoting, "The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, under all circumstances."
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"No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the will of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy and despotism." Did you hear what this Supreme Court justice said? He is saying that no, the Constitution cannot be suspended for any reason. Pandemic or no pandemic. War or no war. It does not matter. Here's another quote by Justice William O. Douglas. He says this:
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"Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us? The constitutional theory is that we the people are the sovereigns. The state and federal officials only are agents. We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy as we need not stay docile and quiet." And this decision was Colton v. Kentucky in 1972. And one more quote, this one is by Montana State Representative John Fuller.
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And this was in reference to the COVID-19. Right now, he said, and I quote, "We did not vote on this shelter-in-place dictum. Yeah, we did not vote on the shutdown of all non-essential businesses. Hysteria leads to a dismissal of the factual. And the factual analysis of the current Wuhan flu is that many of the policies enacted here in Montana are irrational and insulting."
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"Does anyone believe that the vulnerable, such as this mid-70s old man"—that's how old he is—"are incapable of taking appropriate precautions on their own without the governor destroying the livelihoods of our fellow Montanians? Does anyone really expect now that a governor has assumed the power to decide who is essential or not, that future governors will not expand on such policies? Increasing dependence on government and passively accepting that some elite somewhere knows best about our welfare is much more dangerous than the Wuhan virus."
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"The natural desire to be safe often suppresses the need to be free. But abandoning one's own responsibility to provide for their own safety will result in government tyranny and you will still die." Montana State Representative John Fuller. Well, Rushdoony in one of his books also pointed out that the word "tyrant" basically means one who rules without God. How in the world could he make such a statement? How could a tyrant be simply one who rules without God? Well, listen very carefully to Psalm 75, verses 5 through 7. God says to the rulers, "Lift not up your head on high, speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the south, nor from the west. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and he setteth up another."
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So God is the one that puts down rulers and exalts rulers as well. And then Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2 verses 20 and 21: "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." So he says God is the one who removes kings and puts up kings. Now in order to understand that a tyrant is one who rules without God, you must remember the passage in Romans chapter 13.
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Since the Bible commands everyone to be in submission to the higher authority, there is no higher authority than God. He is the highest. That means whatever position anyone is in, he must be in submission to God. Moreover, may I remind you that God created only three institutions. He created the family, which is a ministry of education; the church, which is a ministry of grace; and civil government, which is a ministry of justice. And since God is the creator of each of these institutions, it necessarily follows that anyone who is in those institutions are answerable and accountable to him. Moreover, when you look in Romans chapter 13, especially verse 4 and verse 6, in that passage in Romans 13, verse 4, the Bible says that rulers are his ministers. He is the minister of God to thee for good. Wow.
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Well, the word "minister" happens to be the word "diakonos" in the Greek, which is where we get our English word "deacon." And the word "deacon" literally means a servant. So God then appointed civil rulers as his deacons, as his servants. And then he said, "If you do evil, be afraid; for he is the revenger of God. He is the avenger of them that do evil." Guess what? The word "revenger" literally, it's "ekdikos" in the Greek, and it means one that exacts righteousness out of. So why has God created civil rulers? Number one, to be his deacon, his minister, his servant. Number two, to be his exactor of righteousness. And number three, when you get to Romans 13 in verse 6, he again talks about them being ministers, but this time it's a different word. It's the word "leitourgoi," plural, "leitourgos," singular. It's the word "leitourgoi," it's where we get our English word "liturgy" from. What is the liturgy? It's a public worship. So why did God ordain civil rulers? To be his deacons, to be his exactors of righteousness, and to be his public worship.
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Obviously, when you have a civil ruler who does not bend the knee to God and bow to God and rule according to God, he is indeed a tyrant. God is the creator. And as creatures, we owe him honor and glory and submission. I love this quote from the Alabama Constitution. Listen to it: "That the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. And when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression." Wow. Wow. A tyrant is not going to recognize God. He's not going to recognize any law. He's not even going to recognize the people. A tyrant is much like that individual in Luke 18 that our Lord described: "There was a certain ruler who feared not God nor regarded man." And so you're going to find a tyrant is one that does not fear God, and consequently has no regard for man.
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That is why in the Bible, a tyrant is compared to a roaring lion and a raging bear. You'll find that in Proverbs 28 in verse 15, where God says, "As a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people." And if you look up the word "wicked," you'll find that it means cruel, despotic, and criminal.
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Now, when we're talking about tyrants, we have an excellent illustration of one in Acts chapter 12. And that is Herod. So I want you to look particularly now at verses 1 and 2. I want you to see the fury of a tyrant. "And now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with a sword." Now, I want you to note the Bible says "now Herod the king."
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Let me identify this man. This is not Herod the Great who slew the infants at Bethlehem. Neither is it Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. This is Herod Agrippa. He was the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa, like his grandfather, was an Idumean. That's just another word for an Edomite in the Bible. He was an Idumean through his grandfather, Herod the Great, and he was the grandson of Miriam, the Maccabean princess. Obviously now this man had a rather bad heritage. His grandfather murdered babies. His father murdered John the Baptist. I mean, let's put it like this.
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Usually wicked rulers always try to outdo the others. And so here Herod the king now is stretching forth his hand, the Bible says, to vex certain in the church. Now, when the Bible says he stretched forth his hands, that means that he's obviously now in fury, going to try to persecute certain individuals. Note, if you would, please. He says, "Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church."
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So undoubtedly he began with the leaders, and the word "vexed" indicates that he oppressed, afflicted, harmed, maltreated, and evilly and wickedly attacked them. Now, probably at first it was something like fines and/or confiscation of goods, maybe imprisonment. But then, of course, it led to murder.
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Now, I want you to know that this is a renewing now and a reviving of persecution. If you look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 8, beginning there with verse 1, you will find the persecution that arose under Saul of Tarsus. Look at it. Acts 8, verse 1: "And Saul was consenting unto his death"—that is the death of Stephen—"and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. And Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women and committed them to prison." So here is Saul then persecuting, arresting and confining everyone that he can.
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He hates Christ so much and he hates the truth so much. When you look in Acts chapter 9, I'm not going to go over Saul's conversion, but after he was saved by the grace of God, if you'll look in verse 31, here's what the Bible says after God saved him: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and were multiplied." So after Saul was converted, the churches had rest.
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In other words, they now began to really multiply through peace. Now, the interesting thing is this persecution under Saul was not just imprisonment. It also oftentimes led to death. If you would look in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10, you will see Paul's own confession of what happened. Acts 26 and verse 10: He says, "Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them." So it's not just Stephen that Paul gave his voice against, but obviously plenty of the saints as well. So Herod then in Acts chapter 12 is beginning to stretch forth his hand in fury.
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He undoubtedly begins lightly, but then of course it progresses into murder because he murdered James, the brother of John, with a sword. Now, James was one of the first three apostles. James was with our Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. And now James has the honor of being the first apostle to be martyred for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now, before I go any further, there are several truths that we need to grasp right here. First, I want you to understand that milder and lighter persecution usually progresses into heavy and more severe persecution. If you buckle under when persecution is light and mild, what will you do when it is rough and severe? I want to show you this principle. I won't get a whole Acts 12, but look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse 5. I want you to see what Jeremiah asked. Jeremiah chapter 12 and verse 5. Look at it. Jeremiah 12 and verse 5. Jeremiah sets this principle out very clearly for us. He asked, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace where thou trustest, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?" So he said, if you can't run with the footmen, you're not going to be expected to run with the horses.
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And if you can't stand in the land of peace when everything is hunky-dory, so to speak, he said, what's going to happen in the swelling of the Jordan? What's going to happen when real tribulation, real trouble arises? So the truth of the matter is, if we give in to light persecution, we're certainly going to give in when it becomes more severe. Our Lord taught us that we are going to suffer persecution.
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You remember what he said in John 15 verses 18 through 20. He said to his disciples, "If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you're not of the world and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Then he says this: "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord."
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"If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they've kept my word, then they'll keep your words as well." And it was the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12 said this: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." So we should not be surprised at persecution. We should understand that anytime we enter into what you would call mild or moderate persecution, we might as well get set and get ready because it will probably be amped up and lead to a far more severe persecution. Secondly, I want you to understand this, that oftentimes the ungodly understand a biblical principle far better than do the godly.
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What am I talking about? Look at verse 1 again of Acts 12.
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"Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with a sword." He vexed certain of the church. It was not everyone in the church. Certain ones. Why would he go after James? Because James was the leader of the church at Jerusalem. Here's the principle: strike the head and it's over with. Hmm. And this is what Herod is thinking. If I'll kill James and kill these other leaders, I'll be through with this Christian business.
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And these Christians will be out and gone and done away with. It's just that simple. Now, this principle is clearly seen in reference to our Lord. I'm going to give you a quote from Zechariah chapter 13 in verse 7, and our Lord quotes this passage twice in the New Testament. Here's what Zechariah 13 verse 7 says: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones." What's he saying? Smite the shepherd. Once you kill him, I can just gather everything that he owned into my own hands. They're mine. Did you know our Lord quoted this twice? Matthew 26, verse 31: "Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." He said it again in Mark 14 in verse 27: "And Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
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Now this truth is applicable in any tyrannical situation. I find it interesting that so many people get so aggravated and so upset with what you and I would call the local entities that always proffer this excuse, "Well, I'm just doing my job." Well, as reprehensible as someone is who would do their job, which is contrary to the Constitution, contrary to the Bible, they're not the real problem. The real problem are those who are giving orders for those local entities to do what they are doing.
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In other words, it's the head that needs to be severed. That's exactly what Herod understood. He understood the ones directing and giving the orders are the problem. And thus he sought to destroy the head of the church.
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Third, I want you to notice this, that usually persecution is at the behest of and the benefit of a certain group. Look in your Bibles to verse 3: "And because he"—Herod—"saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also." Ah, now when he saw that it pleased the Jews. May I remind you that anytime you see this phrase "the Jews," it does not refer to everyone in the tribe of Judah. Neither does it refer to everyone who happens to live in the land of Judea. Sometimes this little phrase "the Jews" refers only to the rulers. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Acts 28, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. Acts 28 and verse 17. Watch this very closely. Acts 28 verse 17, Paul is in Rome at his own hired house. The Bible says in verse 17, "And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together." Now there is a phrase that refers just to the rulers. He called the chief of the Jews together.
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"And when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I've committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. Now watch. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar."
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"Not that I had ought to accuse my nation of." Now, notice he said "when the Jews spake against it." Well, if you want to know who the Jews were, go back to Acts 24, because here is where the apostle Paul had to appeal to Caesar. Look in Acts chapter 24. Notice if you would, verse 1, Acts 24, verse 1: "And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul." So here we have Ananias, the high priest, the elders, and one Tertullus. Skip down to verse 9: "And the Jews assented, saying that these things were so." What Jews? The ones that were just mentioned in verse 1. Read the context. Because Tertullus makes his oration. And then he says in verse 9 that the Jews assented saying these things were so. So it refers back to verse 24, which would be Ananias and the elders. Because Tertullus is the one who's speaking. I don't know if you remember it or not, but I did five messages on "Jews, Judaism, and Christianity."
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And one of those messages, I took the entire message to demonstrate this phrase "the Jews" oftentimes refers just to the rulers. So here it is. The Jews probably requested and were pleased with what Herod had done. And obviously now rulers without a conscience, rulers without biblical convictions will always defer to a group that will enhance and promote and prosper their position of usurped authority. So when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he said, "I'll take Peter as well." So you have the fury of the tyrant when he murders James and captures Peter.
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Secondly, I want you to see in this passage the failure of a tyrant. The interesting thing is this: although a tyrant is a usurper and claims power that he does not have, he cannot always succeed. He does not always accomplish that which he sets out to do. So look, if you would please, in verse 4: "And when he had apprehended him"—that is Peter—"he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. But Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison."
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"And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he said to him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Now, Peter escapes.
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He does not suffer the consequences that James suffered. Undoubtedly, Herod had probably heard of Peter's previous escape from prison in Acts chapter 5. There he was in prison, but the angel went and opened the door and said, "Go proclaim all the words of this life." And they found Peter out preaching the next day. So Herod is going to make sure that he does not escape. And so the Bible says that he now has four quaternions of soldiers. So if you'll notice in the context, there were two soldiers that were chained to Peter, one on each side of him. There were two soldiers standing guard out front. That's four. But the Bible says four quaternions, four times four is 16. So that meant that these soldiers then rotated in six-hour shifts. So there was never a time when Peter was without four soldiers. Two he was chained to, and two were guarding the door just in case somehow he slipped out of those chains and got to the door.
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Now, let me just say that there are some things in this passage that I find not only very interesting, but very humorous as well. The first one is this, look in verses 6 and 7: "When Herod would have brought him forth the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands." Now, I want you to note, first of all, that a light shined in the prison. The light did not awaken Peter.
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I don't know about you, but usually if a light comes on in the room or next room, it usually wakes me up. But this light was a supernatural light and it didn't wake him up. The angel had to smite him on the side to wake him up. Please remember, here's a man that's about to be executed. He's waiting for his head to be cut off like James. And he's sleeping so soundly that the angel has to slap him on the side and say, "Get up!"
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What's wrong with you, boy? Stop and think about this. Most Christians cannot even sleep through a thunderstorm. And here's a man about to be executed, and he's sleeping like a baby. And the angel has to smite him and tell him to get up. And of course he gets up, the chains fall off, they walk out, the gate opens to them of his own accord, and he goes to John Mark's house where all the disciples are gathered together. Now I want you to note the second thing that is rather humorous. Look in verses 13 and 14. He goes there to John Mark's house, and verse 13: "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 without the gate." Now, think about this. Here Peter is. He's already escaped the prison. He's walked out the main gate. He's gone to the house. He's knocking on the door. And when Rhoda hears his voice, she gets excited and turns around and runs back to tell everybody that Peter's at the gate.
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He just escaped out of prison. She leaves him outside standing where anybody or everybody might could see him who happened to be up at that particular time. Yeah, not "Come on in. Let me hide you." You know, "Come on. Let me give you a secret place." No, no. Just leaves him standing. And the third thing that is absolutely astounding is the Christians who were praying for Peter did not believe their prayers were answered.
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Look, if you would please, at verse 5 first. Acts chapter 12, verse 5: "Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." So the church is praying, "God deliver him, God deliver him." Look in verse 15, Rhoda runs back in to tell them. And they said unto her, when she said, "Peter's at the gate," they said unto her, "Thou art mad."
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But she constantly affirmed that it was so. And they said, "It is his angel" or his ghost. Note, if you would, "But Peter continued knocking and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished." Isn't this amazing? You know, this is exactly the way Christians are. We pray and ask for something and then when God gives it to us, we don't even believe it. We ask God for a miracle and then we don't believe that God has given us the miracle.
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When it happens, when it appears. So obviously, God sovereignly, powerfully, miraculously, and marvelously delivered Peter from death. Now, here's a question. It probably is already entered into your mind. So here it is. If God miraculously and marvelously delivered Peter out of prison and allowed Peter to escape the hands of Herod, why did he not do the same for James? Why was James executed and Peter was not executed? Here's the answer. God has not only ordained the day of our birth. He has also ordained the day of our death, and also the way in which we are going to die. Listen carefully.
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Job chapter 14 verses 1 through 5: "Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of the unclean? Not one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." Did you hear that? "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." You're not going to live one second past your time appointed.
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And you are going to die in exactly the same way that God has ordained for you to die. God had ordained James to die by the hand of Herod. He did not ordain for Peter to have his head cut off. Why? If you look back in your Bibles to John 21, John 21, you will see what our Lord told Peter as to how he was going to die. John 21, notice if you would please verses 18 and 19. Our Lord is talking to Peter, John 21, verse 18.
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And he says, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, Follow me." So Peter was to be executed by crucifixion. He was to be killed by crucifixion. In fact, tradition says he was crucified upside down because he did not believe himself worthy to be crucified in the manner Jesus Christ was crucified. So God had ordained that Peter would suffer death by crucifixion.
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Now, the truth of the matter is this. It was just not Peter's time to die. Neither was it the way in which he was to die. Herod beheaded James, but Peter would die later by crucifixion. And the truth is this, regardless of how a Christian dies, or regardless of the way a Christian dies, the Bible says in Psalm 116 in verse 15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
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So we need to learn this. Until it is our time to die, we are immortal. We are not going to die until the day and the second that God has ordained that we die. So God spared Peter, but he did not spare James. So you find then not only the fury of the tyrant, but the failing of the tyrant. And now notice, if you would, in verses 20 through 24, the fall of the tyrant. Look in verse 20.
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"And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied."
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Here is something that is very, very reassuring. And that is this: every tyrant shall fall, even the petty tyrants. We normally remember the big tyrants, like I mentioned, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, all of these people, Stalin. But we have a host of petty tyrants as well. And there's an interesting passage in Psalm 82, and I don't have time to explain it, but let me read verses 6 and 7, where he said, "I said that you were gods, and all of you the children of the Most High. But you shall die like men."
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You claim to be a god. God says, "I'm going to show you something. You're not a god and you're going to die just like a man."
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Now, Herod's death is very revealing in one sense of the word. It pictures for us the fall and destruction of these tyrants who love to play God and like to think that they are God. You remember that passage in Isaiah 42 in verse 8, where God says, "I am the Lord: that is my name: my glory will I not share with another, neither my praise to graven images."
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Now here's what had happened. Herod was upset with these people. Their country was nourished by the king. So they wanted to get back in good graces. And so they made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend. How did they do that? Probably with a bribe. And so Blastus then prevails upon Herod and Herod comes and gives an oration unto them seated upon his throne. Now, Josephus says that Herod had on a very splendid robe, which was woven tightly of silver, and it glittered brilliantly in the sun as he gave this oration. So when the people heard this oration, they began to praise him and said, "It's the voice of a god and not a man." Why in the world would somebody be so stupid as to say, "It's the voice of a god and not a man"? Well, you've got to remember, if they had gotten plenty of goods from him just simply as a man, as a king, now they're proclaiming him a god. Maybe they'll get more from him.
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They were on the dole. They were on the take. They wanted everything they could get. So now they're ascribing godhood to this wicked murderer. Here's Herod's sin: pride. He stole the honor and glory that belonged only to God. He gloried in their praise, in their admiration, in their adulation. He was lifted up. He took God's glory. And the Bible says immediately, instantly, the angel of the Lord smote him.
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And he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. Now the word for "worms" is the word "skolex," which literally means a worm. And it means to be worm-eaten. It is true that when we die, worms will devour our body. But they devoured Herod while he was alive. I cannot imagine the pain just from the gnawing and the chewing of worms on his entrails and on his organs while he was alive. They literally ate him to death. Now listen carefully. The temporary judgment upon Herod was only emblematical of the eternal judgment that awaited him. Did you know three times in scripture, three times in scripture, eternal punishment is described as, listen carefully, "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." Probably the word "worm" there might refer to the conscience, but still, "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched," all who play God, all who want to steal God's honor and God's glory will suffer the fate of a tyrant. God will judge them.
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Now, let me make some applications and try to tie it together. The first one is this. Think about this. God delights in bringing down proud men, and He delights in bringing them down in mortifying ways, embarrassing ways, humiliating ways. Pharaoh was plagued with lice and flies. Ephraim was consumed as a moth. And Herod was eaten of worms. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 5? Listen to this: "Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to God: though hand be joined in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination, and the word "abomination" means a stench in God's nostrils. Everyone that's proud in heart is an abomination to God. And though hand joined in hand, doesn't matter who supports whom, he shall not be unpunished.
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You remember what Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel 4, when he lifted up himself in pride and said, "Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for my majesty and mine honor?" And God brought him down and made him eat grass as oxen for seven years. And finally, in Daniel 4 and verse 37, Nebuchadnezzar confessed, "And those that walk in pride, he is able to abase." God brought him down.
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Here's the second thing you need to take note of. God does not even need to raise his mighty hand to bring down the wicked. You know, people are so stupid as to stand up and try to challenge God. Like, "God, I dare you. I challenge you." You know, and they expect God somehow to supernaturally slap them. No, no, God doesn't have to do that. Just send a little worm, a little germ, a little virus. That'll take care of them.
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I mean, that's what he did for Herod. God is in absolute and sovereign control. He does not need to do anything except that which he pleases, and whatever he pleases will accomplish his purpose.
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Now, I want you to see something else. Herod raised his hand to vex certain of the church. Look what happens in verse 24. Look at it: "But the word of God grew and multiplied." Persecution is not going to stop the word of God. Persecution is not going to stop the kingdom of God. Persecution is not going to stop the children of God. I would imagine when Herod was taken out of the way, yes, the persecution stopped for a while, that is for sure. I want to tell you, men down through the centuries have thought they have destroyed Christianity.
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Diocletian was one of them. Voltaire, the French infidel, was another one. Voltaire made this prediction in 1776. He said, "One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker." So he said, within a hundred years of my death, the Bible will be extinct. Christianity will be gone. I want you to listen. I'm reading this. In August 1836, only 58 years after Voltaire's death, Reverend William Ackworth of the British and Foreign Bible Society saw with his own eyes Voltaire's former residence in Geneva, Switzerland being used as a repository for Bibles and religious tracts. The house at that time was occupied by Colonel Henry Truchin, who served as the president of the Evangelical Society of Geneva from 1834 to 1839. Now listen, let it also be noted only 16 years after Voltaire's death in 1794, the presence of the Bible began making inroads in the town where he had spent the last 18 years of his life, Ferney, France. On the very printing presses which Voltaire employed to print his irreverent works was used to print editions of the Bible, and which were printed on paper that had been especially made for a superior edition of Voltaire's works.
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The Voltaire project failed and the paper was bought and devoted to a better purpose than printing Bibles. Does God mock the tyrants? Of course. Does God mock the infidels? Of course. Although we may have tyranny, tyranny cannot and will not prevail because God is on the throne. And so all of our great tyrants and all of our petty tyrants need to be aware of the judgment that awaits them.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You, Father, that Your Word will increase and multiply regardless of persecution, regardless of tyranny. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. And may we not fear what Your divine providence brings our way. But Lord, may we submit to Thee and honor Thee in all that we say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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so so
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:26:26Z

The Rise And Fall Of A Tyrant

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver examines Acts 12 to illustrate the nature, fury, failure, and fall of tyrants, using Herod Agrippa as a case study. He defines tyranny as the unlawful use of lawful authority, emphasizing that rulers must submit to God. The sermon highlights God's sovereignty over rulers, the inevitability of persecution, and the ultimate judgment of proud tyrants, while encouraging believers to trust in God's deliverance and the unstoppable growth of His Word.

Introduction and Definition of Tyranny

Weaver introduces Acts 12 and defines tyranny as the unlawful use of lawful authority, noting that tyrants can be cruel or benevolent but always rule without God.

Scripture Reading — Acts 12:1-2

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter. And then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter or Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison."

Constitutional and Biblical Basis for Lawful Authority

He explains the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause and contrasts democracy with a republic, arguing that rulers become tyrants when they ignore law and God.

Quotes on Despotism and COVID-19 Tyranny

Weaver cites Supreme Court justices and a Montana representative to illustrate modern tyranny, including pandemic-related overreach.

Biblical Definition: Ruling Without God

Using Psalm 75, Daniel 2, and Romans 13, he argues that a tyrant is one who rules without submission to God, failing to serve as God's deacon and minister.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:4,6

Well, the word "minister" happens to be the word "diakonos" in the Greek, which is where we get our English word "deacon." And the word "deacon" literally means a servant. So God then appointed civil rulers as his deacons, as his servants. And then he said, "If you do evil, be afraid; for he is the revenger of God. He is the avenger of them that do evil." Guess what? The word "revenger" literally, it's "ekdikos" in the Greek, and it means one that exacts righteousness out of. So why has God created civil rulers? Number one, to be his deacon, his minister, his servant. Number two, to be his exactor of righteousness. And number three, when you get to Romans 13 in verse 6, he again talks about them being ministers, but this time it's a different word. It's the word "leitourgoi," plural, "leitourgos," singular. It's the word "leitourgoi," it's where we get our English word "liturgy" from. What is the liturgy? It's a public worship. So why did God ordain civil rulers? To be his deacons, to be his exactors of righteousness, and to be his public worship.

The Fury of a Tyrant: Herod's Persecution

Herod Agrippa's persecution of the church begins with vexing leaders and escalates to murdering James, illustrating how light persecution progresses to severe.

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:1-3

"And Saul was consenting unto his death"—that is the death of Stephen—"and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. And Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house and

hailing men and women and committed them to prison." So here is Saul then persecuting, arresting and confining everyone that he can.

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10

"Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them."

So it's not just Stephen that Paul gave his voice against, but obviously plenty of the saints as well. So Herod then in Acts chapter 12 is beginning to stretch forth his hand in fury.

Principles of Persecution and the Head of the Church

Weaver explains that tyrants target leaders to scatter the flock, and that persecution often pleases certain groups, as Herod acted to please the Jewish rulers.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones."

What's he saying? Smite the shepherd. Once you kill him, I can just gather everything that he owned into my own hands. They're mine. Did you know our Lord quoted this twice? Matthew 26, verse 31:

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

He said it again in Mark 14 in verse 27:

Scripture Reading — Zechariah 13:7

"And Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."

The Failure of a Tyrant: Peter's Miraculous Escape

Despite heavy guard, Peter is miraculously freed by an angel while the church prays, showing that tyrants cannot thwart God's sovereign plan.

Scripture Reading — Acts 12:6-11

"And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he said to him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me."

God's Sovereignty Over Life and Death

Weaver explains that James died and Peter lived because God ordains the day and manner of death, citing Job 14 and John 21.

The Fall of a Tyrant: Herod's Death

Herod accepts divine praise and is immediately struck by an angel, eaten by worms, and dies, demonstrating God's judgment on pride.

Applications: God Humbles the Proud and His Word Prevails

Weaver applies the lesson that God delights in humbling the proud, uses small means to judge, and ensures His Word grows despite persecution.

The Rise And Fall Of A Tyrant

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	DDnlA6lQvNY
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Daniel
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-07-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 13
Source Timed Segments	71

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Definition of Tyranny: Weaver introduces Acts 12 and defines tyranny as the unlawful use of lawful authority, noting that tyrants can be cruel or benevolent but always rule without God.
Constitutional and Biblical Basis for Lawful Authority: He explains the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause and contrasts democracy with a republic, arguing that rulers become tyrants when they ignore law and God.
Quotes on Despotism and COVID-19 Tyranny: Weaver cites Supreme Court justices and a Montana representative to illustrate modern tyranny, including pandemic-related overreach.
Biblical Definition: Ruling Without God: Using Psalm 75, Daniel 2, and Romans 13, he argues that a tyrant is one who rules without submission to God, failing to serve as God's deacon and minister.
The Fury of a Tyrant: Herod's Persecution: Herod Agrippa's persecution of the church begins with vexing leaders and escalates to murdering James, illustrating how light persecution progresses to severe.
Principles of Persecution and the Head of the Church: Weaver explains that tyrants target leaders to scatter the flock, and that persecution often pleases certain groups, as Herod acted to please the Jewish rulers.
The Failure of a Tyrant: Peter's Miraculous Escape: Despite heavy guard, Peter is miraculously freed by an angel while the church prays, showing that tyrants cannot thwart God's sovereign plan.
God's Sovereignty Over Life and Death: Weaver explains that James died and Peter lived because God ordains the day and manner of death, citing Job 14 and John 21.
The Fall of a Tyrant: Herod's Death: Herod accepts divine praise and is immediately struck by an angel, eaten by worms, and dies, demonstrating God's judgment on pride.
Applications: God Humbles the Proud and His Word Prevails: Weaver applies the lesson that God delights in humbling the proud, uses small means to judge, and ensures His Word grows despite persecution.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Tyranny is not limited to cruel oppression; it includes any unlawful use of authority.

Weaver argues that a tyrant can be benevolent but still rule unlawfully, ignoring constitutional and divine law.

He cites the U.S. Constitution and states that when lawful power is used unlawfully, the ruler becomes a tyrant.

A tyrant is one who rules without God.

Since all authority comes from God, rulers who do not submit to Him are tyrants.

Romans 13 describes rulers as God's ministers; Psalm 75 and Daniel 2 show God's control over rulers.

Persecution often targets leaders to destroy the movement.

Herod killed James, the church leader, understanding the principle of striking the shepherd to scatter the sheep.

Zechariah 13:7 and its quotation in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27 illustrate this principle.

God's sovereign plan determines who lives and who dies in persecution.

James was martyred, but Peter was delivered because God had ordained different deaths for them.

Job 14:5 shows God appoints our days; John 21:18-19 foretells Peter's crucifixion.

God judges tyrants by humbling their pride, often in humiliating ways.

Herod's death by worms is a pattern of God's judgment on proud rulers.

Proverbs 16:5 says the proud are an abomination; Nebuchadnezzar was made to eat grass.

The Word of God ultimately triumphs over all persecution.

Despite Herod's efforts, the Word grew and multiplied; history shows the failure of tyrants like Voltaire.

Acts 12:24 and the account of Voltaire's house becoming a Bible repository.

Scripture References

Acts 12:1-2: Herod stretches forth his hand to vex the church and kills James.
Acts 12:3-4: Herod imprisons Peter, intending to bring him out after Passover.
Psalm 75:5-7: God puts down one ruler and sets up another.
Daniel 2:20-21: God removes kings and sets up kings.
Romans 13:4,6: Rulers are God's ministers, deacons, and public worshippers.
Proverbs 28:15: A wicked ruler is like a roaring lion and a raging bear.
Acts 8:1-3: Saul's persecution scattered the church.
Acts 9:31: After Saul's conversion, the churches had rest.
Acts 26:10: Paul voted for the death of saints.
Jeremiah 12:5: If you stumble with footmen, how will you contend with horses?
John 15:18-20: The world hates believers because it hated Christ first.
2 Timothy 3:12: All who live godly will suffer persecution.
Zechariah 13:7: Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
Matthew 26:31: Jesus quotes Zechariah about smiting the shepherd.
Mark 14:27: Jesus again quotes Zechariah about smiting the shepherd.
Acts 12:5: The church prayed without ceasing for Peter.
Acts 12:6-11: An angel frees Peter from prison.
Job 14:1-5: Man's days are determined; God has appointed his bounds.
John 21:18-19: Jesus foretells Peter's death by crucifixion.
Acts 12:20-24: Herod is struck by an angel and eaten of worms; the Word grows.

Historical References

U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 2: Weaver reads the supremacy clause to argue that state laws contrary to the Constitution are void.
Benjamin Franklin's 'A republic, if you can keep it': Weaver contrasts democracy (mob rule) with a republic (rule of law).
Claiborne Jackson's response to Lincoln: Missouri governor called Lincoln's call for volunteers illegal and unconstitutional.
Supreme Court Justice David Davis on despotism: Davis stated the Constitution cannot be suspended for any exigency.
Justice William O. Douglas, Colton v. Kentucky (1972): Douglas said the people are sovereigns, officials are agents.
Montana State Representative John Fuller on COVID-19: Fuller criticized shelter-in-place orders as irrational and tyrannical.
Herod Agrippa I: Weaver identifies the Herod of Acts 12 as Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great.
Voltaire's prediction and its failure: Voltaire predicted the Bible's extinction in 100 years; his house later became a Bible repository.
Diocletian's persecution: Mentioned as an example of a tyrant who thought he destroyed Christianity.
Josephus on Herod's death: Weaver references Josephus's description of Herod's silver robe and oration.

Important Quotes

The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, under all circumstances.

Justice Davis's quote emphasizes the inviolability of the Constitution, supporting Weaver's argument against tyranny.

No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the will of man than that any of its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government.

This reinforces the idea that constitutional protections cannot be set aside, even in emergencies.

Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?

Justice Douglas's quote challenges passive acceptance of authority, aligning with the sermon's call to recognize tyranny.

The natural desire to be safe often suppresses the need to be free. But abandoning one's own responsibility to provide for their own safety will result in government tyranny and you will still die.

Fuller's statement warns that trading freedom for safety leads to tyranny, a key application in the sermon.

Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to God: though hand be joined in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

This verse underscores God's judgment on pride, central to the fall of Herod and all tyrants.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Acts 12:24 is the triumphant conclusion that God's Word prevails despite persecution.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does Weaver's definition of tyranny as 'the unlawful use of lawful authority' apply to current events?

[Context]

Weaver discusses constitutional limits and modern examples of governmental overreach.

[Question]

In what ways can Christians discern when civil rulers are acting as God's ministers versus when they become tyrants?

[Context]

The sermon explains Romans 13 and the role of rulers as God's deacons.

[Question]

Why does God allow some believers to be martyred while miraculously delivering others?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the deaths of James and Peter, citing God's sovereign ordination of death.

[Question]

How should the church respond when prayers seem unanswered, as in the case of Peter's release?

[Context]

The church prayed for Peter but was astonished when he was freed.

[Question]

What does Herod's death by worms teach us about God's judgment on pride?

[Context]

Weaver connects Herod's fate to the eternal judgment described as 'where the worm dieth not.'

[Question]

How can believers maintain confidence in the growth of God's Word amid increasing persecution?

[Context]

The sermon concludes with Acts 12:24 and the example of Voltaire's failed prediction.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T02:54:21Z