By Michael C. Mack

1. What keeps you up at night? 

Read Acts 12:1-11. 

2. What possible motivations did Herod have for killing James and imprisoning Peter? (See Acts 11:18, 21, 27, 28; 12:3.) Also note that this was Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great (who had the children in Bethlehem murdered) and the nephew of Herod Antipas (who had John the Baptist beheaded).

3. What does the heavy guard of Peter indicate about him and his worth to Herod? (Note Acts 4:19-21; 5:17-21.) What made him a flight risk?

4. How might you grapple with the fact that God sent an angel to save Peter from death but not James?  

5. How was Peter able to sleep in the midst of his dire circumstances? 

6. What is the difference, if any, between praying and “earnestly praying”? 

7. Throughout this study of Acts, we continually see God’s sovereignty—he is in absolute control of every situation. What situation are you dealing with now that you need to surrender to our sovereign Lord? How can your group earnestly pray for you in that regard?

Michael Mack leads church training events and consults with churches through his ministry, Small Group Leadership (www.smallgroupleadership.com).