When Jesus ascended to His Father and poured out His Holy Spirit onto His 120 disciples on the Day of Pentecost, Peter was changed from a fearful man disavowing His Lord, to an undaunted advocate for what he had just experienced. Peter and the rest of the disciples and apostles turned the world upside down, from a modest twelve to billions believing in Christ and His resurrection today. Yet, there are many who don’t believe because they have not had a personal experience like Peter and the 119; they have not had their own personal Day of Pentecost. Unfortunately, this lack of belief in Christ is not due to lack of witness or opportunity. It is due to their refusal to open their heart’s door to the gentle knock of Christ.
Peter later was locked up for preaching the truths about the resurrection of Christ and His Divinity as the Son of Yahweh. Fortunately for Peter, the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, was led by the Holy Spirit to pray for Peter. Herod had just killed James, and Peter expected that the same fate would happen to him soon.
James died for refusing to deny the Lord Jesus Christ to the crowds from the Temple wall. The following excerpt is taken from the writings of Josephus and Eusebius, early historians.
‘The Jewish high priest asked James to stand on the Temple wall and speak against Jesus to the crowds which had gathered in preparation for the Passover. James instead spoke in favor of Jesus as the Christ; many heard him and many were converted. So the Jewish religious leaders threw James down from the Temple wall. Yet he did not die from the fall, so they began to stone him. Still he did not die from the stoning, so a man took a fuller club (used to beat out clothing) and clubbed him to death. In this way died James the Less, one of the Twelve Apostles and the leader of the Church at Jerusalem for 30 years.’
But when the house of Mary prayed, God sent an angel to kick Peter in the side, telling him to wake up. Can you imagine being able to sleep when you know that at any minute you will be escorted out to die? Death Row meant nothing to Peter now, but just a few years before, he ran away to hide when threatened as being a believer in Christ. The Day of Pentecost changed his mindset from fear to faith, even in the face of death!
Years later, Peter would die a martyr’s death, by being crucified upside down on a cross. He didn’t feel that he could die the same way as His Lord, after denying Him at the crucifixion.
What are you willing to die for? It is noble to give one’s life to save another? But what if that life is your own? Would you be able to say to your executioners, as Peter and James did, that whether you live or die, you belong to the Lord? Yet, in spite of all the lukewarmness of Christians today, God loves mankind so much that He continues to send angels to intervene in the affairs of their lives.
Consider the following story about angels saving people from a horrific car accident, and people, ordinary people, seeing those angels. God is still alive and well, and the Book of Acts is still being written. I know God has sent His angels to rescue me on many occasions. Thus, the writer of Hebrews warns us to be careful when entertaining strangers, because they may just be an angel sent to minster to you or on your behalf. (Hebrews 13:2)
Watch Video: Witnesses Saw Angels Pull People Out of a Horrific Car Crash
One rainy afternoon, two cars collided on a busy country road. While the cars were engulfed in flames, two people walking by attempted to help the two drivers to safety. However, they were unable to move the victims… until angels started helping!
Why not bow your knees, and with your heart, ask Christ to forgive you now for your unbelief and for your selfish ways of living? He is ready to forgive and forget.