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Acts

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Acts (Acts 1–2, 7, 22–28)
    22 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    A Gospel for Jews and then Gentiles
    23 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    The Gospel and Restoration
    25 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    The Apostolic Church
    36 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience
    25 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 40

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Acts Overview of Acts (Acts 1–2, 7, 22–28) In | Workbook: Herod Agrippa I and Simon Peter – Two Kingdoms
Lesson 1, Activity 7

In | Workbook: Herod Agrippa I and Simon Peter – Two Kingdoms

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

While the theme of the kingdom is not as prominent in Acts as it was in the Gospels, Acts portrays a clear distinction between God’s kingdom and earthly kingdoms. In the life of Peter, we see parallels between two very different types of leaders: Herod Agrippa I (a leader in the Roman Empire) and Simon Peter.  

Parallel verses below draw out some of the distinctions between Herod Agrippa I and Peter. 

Herod Agrippa ISimon Peter
Herod Agrippa moves from Jerusalem to Caesarea. (12:19)Peter moves from Caesarea back to Jerusalem. (11:2)
Herod claims the power of life and death over others. (12:2-6, 19)Peter is prepared to die in order to bring the message of life to others. (3:15; 5:20; 11:18)
Herod treats gentiles arrogantly. (12:20-21)Peter treats gentiles humbly. (10:25-28, 46-48)
Herod is reluctant to share food with gentiles. (12:20)Peter eats with gentiles. (11:3; 10:23, 48)
Herod accepts pagan worship in Caesarea. (12:22-23)Peter rejects pagan worship in Caesarea. (10:25-26)
The Lord’s angel strikes Herod dead. (12:23)The Lord’s angel strikes Peter awake, delivering him from Herod. (12:7)

     Table quoted from: Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, Volume 2: 3:1–14:28, 2013, p. 1957.

  1. Record your reaction to the verses above paralleling Herod Agrippa I and Peter. What might be the point of these apparently intentional comparisons?