| Acts 12
Luke has hidden a story of Jesus in Acts 12. It meets the definition of sod (pronounced sowd) given by the rabbis: it is hidden in scripture and speaks of Messiah. [1] [2]
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- ↑ ▸ ± Ps 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,"
- ↑ "Mashiach is the personification of secrecy (sod, which also means the hidden, inner dimension of the Torah and the mysteries of prophecy) - Breslov Center: Breslov Teachings About Mashiach"
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| Herod
To see the picture, you must connect ideas, not merely words. The verses associated with the ideas below (in the references) concerning Christ do not use the word 'vexed'. But when we read 'vexed' in Acts 12:1, if we meditate upon it, we realize that Jesus had been vexed by two different Herod's; once at the time of his birth, and once at his trial. Jesus said all the scriptures speak of him, so we always ask, "In what way does this speak of Christ?"
- Herod vexed the body of Christ [1]
- Herod had vexed Christ. [2] [3]
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- ↑ Ac 12:1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
- ↑ Mt 2:13 ¶ And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
- ↑ Lu 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
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| The arrest
Connecting the dots concerning the arrests takes more than looking for a common word. Peter was arrested during the "days of unleavened bread". The lazy expositor assumes that the day of unleavened bread are the 'feast of unleavened bread' which takes place after Passover, and the connection to Jesus will never be made. To ensure that we don't misunderstand, Luke tells us that Herod intended to display Peter to the crowds after Easter. [1] The DAYS of unleavened bread occurred before Passover when the Jews sold all their leavening to their non-Jewish neighbors so they could buy it back after Passover.
- Peter was arrested the week before Passover [2]
- Jesus was arrested the week before Passover. [3]
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- ↑ Ac 12:4 ... intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
- ↑ Ac 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
- ↑ Mt 26:2 Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
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| Two
We have been taught to compare and contrast things. In prophetic riddle, we only compare. Peter was placed between two guards, and Jesus between two thieves. If we get hung up contrasting them, we are distracted that guards and thieves are not alike. The comparison between the two is that in each case they were between two somethings.
- Peter was set between two guards [1]
- Jesus was set between two (thieves): [2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:6 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.
- ↑ Mt 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
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Light
- A light shown in the cell [1]
- A light shown (in the tomb):[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: ...
- ↑ Mt 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
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Poked in the side
- Peter was poked on the side [1]
- Jesus was poked in the side: [2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:7...and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
- ↑ Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
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Three barriers
- Three barriers to escape (two sets of guards and a gate) [1]
- Three barriers to escape (two days in death and the stone which was opened on the third day):[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city;
- ↑ Mt 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
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Self-opened
- The gate open by itself [1]
- The stone opened itself:[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:10...which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
- ↑ Lu 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
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Mary
- Peter went to Mary's house [1]
- The first person Jesus saw was Mary:[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:12 And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
- ↑ Mt 28:1 ¶ In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Mt 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
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Women ran to tell the disciples
- The woman ran to tell the disciples [1]
- Mary ran to tell the disciples [2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
- ↑ Mt 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
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Told she was crazy
- She was told she was mad [1]
- The woman was told she was crazy:[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
- ↑ Lu 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
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Another place
- When Peter was finished visiting his disciples he went to another place [1]
- When Jesus finished visiting with his disciple he went to another place:[2]
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- ↑ Ac 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
- ↑ Lu 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
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