CHURCH, POLITICS, AND POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY: CONSIDERING PRAYER TAUGHT BY Jesus AND reflections ON THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART 2
by Tom Marshall, Academic Dean, Maritime Christian College
Political Expediency
King Herod Agrippa had, “some who belonged to the church [arrested], intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2, NIV).[1] What motivated King Herod?
To begin, King Herod Agrippa lived within a dangerous political environment in the Land of Israel and within Rome. At 6 years of age Agrippa’s grandfather, Herod the Great, ordered the execution of Aristobulus IV—Agrippa’s father.[2] After hearing about the execution order, Emperor Augustus joked, “I would rather be Herod’s pig than his son” (Saturnalia 2:4, 11).[3] The emperor’s point of an unclean animal having a longer life than a family member is telling about Herod’s paranoia, and also telling about the emperor’s inappropriate reference to Jewish law forbidding the eating of pork.
For protection as a young boy, Herod Agrippa journeyed to Rome to be educated. By 30 years of age, Agrippa had squandered his family’s fortune, plunged himself into debt, and escaped creditors to the Land of Israel near Beersheba. Around 45 years of age, Agrippa acquired a loan to satisfy his Roman debts and became a tutor within Emperor Tiberius’ court where he became friends with Caligula, Tiberius’ heir (Britannica, 2024).
Before Tiberius’ death, Agrippa had been imprisoned for inappropriate remarks about the emperor. Tiberius died and Caligula became emperor, freeing Agrippa from jail and granting his friend territory to rule. It also happened to belong to Herod Philip the Tetrarch. Herod Antipas tried stopping his nephew’s appointment but was banished and Agrippa received Herod Antipas’ territory as well (Britannica, 2024).
Herod Agrippa now ruled a kingdom as large as his grandfather, Herod the Great. Having secured Roman support, Agrippa needed to demonstrate a strong ruling hand and deference toward the religious leaders within Jerusalem. The upstart church provided the answer. Agrippa executed the Apostle James and imprisoned the Apostle Peter. “Herod [Agrippa] intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover” (Acts 12:4, NIV).
Political expediency is nothing new. Agrippa persecuted the church because it advanced his career. Around fourteen years earlier, Pontius Pilate sought to appease the Jewish religious leaders by having Jesus executed because he feared a riot (John 19:1-16). He found Jesus innocent of any Roman crime (John 18:28-40) but this did not matter. One of the requirements of Rome was to keep the peace. If any Roman official is unable to maintain Roman peace, then their position within the government will be short. Pilate was a Roman bureaucrat putting in his time to move on to the next assignment and build up his family’s name in Rome. His cruelty, however, eventually came to the attention of Rome after Samaritans petitioned Vitellius of Pilate’s atrocities on Mount Gerizim in 36 AD.[4]
Political expediency, likewise, motivated Jewish leaders as they attempted to suppress Jesus and his followers. Remember, these are the same men who had Jesus handed over to Pontius Pilate because they feared Roman intervention. Jesus’ popularity and the crowd’s willingness to make him a leader threatened Rome’s control over the Land of Israel (John 11:45-57). In addition, Jesus’ Apostles continued to preach and heal in Jesus’ name, and it had to stop. They asked Peter and John, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7, NIV). Later, in their deliberations about what they should do, they stated, “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:7, NIV).
To recap, Herod Antipas needs to establish himself as a tough political leader. The chief priests and elders of Israel need to prove they can maintain the Roman peace. Meanwhile the Apostles of Jesus threatened to upend this balance like Jesus had done earlier. History appears to be repeating itself.
So how does the church respond? It is important to know two truths about the early church to understand their response to political expediency and their response to outside pressures.
Witness and Prayer
First, Jesus redirected political ambitions and political solutions connected with the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6) for the expectations of the kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom witnessing in Jesus’ name comes first. Believers must seek after the kingdom of God and not political ambitions or solutions. Jesus clarifies this distinction about the kingdom of God with Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36, NIV). A witness for Jesus is what the kingdom of God expects.
Acts 1:21-22 lays out the requirements for an Apostle, “. . . Choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection” (NIV). The church witnessed to Jesus’ resurrection.
Second, prayer is the go-to activity to seek answers from God. Following the arrest and release of Peter and John, the church met together and prayed. Acts 4:23-31 recounts the details of their prayer time. Peter and John reported what the religious leaders said, “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God” (NIV). The Church gives glory to God and even points out the political expediency of Jesus’ detractors in their prayer. “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed” (v. 27, NIV).
Luke adds,
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:28-30, NIV).
The church’s role is to witness to Jesus no matter what may happen politically. They prayed for “great boldness” for the witnessing to have the most impact. This is a far cry from seeking political solutions to the kingdom of God. As Paul states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). If you review the Gospels and Acts, the Church sought to share Jesus with as many people as possible, and in some cases suffered on behalf of Christ. Peter and John defended their actions of performing miracles in Jesus’ name and preaching the good news before a court. Likewise, they said, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20, NIV). Likewise, the church prayed, “. . . enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30, NIV).
Jesus and the Church are One
On another note, the church viewed Peter and John’s arrest as if Jesus were arrested. But how can Jesus be attacked when it was Jesus’ disciples (Peter and John) who were being persecuted?
Jesus taught them, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4, NIV). Paul shares this with the Ephesian church, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called” (4:4, NIV). Peter writes, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5, NIV). The church represented Jesus, and if the church was attacked it was Jesus who was being attacked.
Paul, who was known as Saul before his conversion, learned this truth during his first encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). Saul planned to arrest people of the Way in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem for discipline. Earlier, Saul approved of Stephen ‘s execution, and arrested believers in Judea. But all that changed on the Damascus Road. Jesus confronted him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4, NIV). When Saul asked who it was, Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5, NIV). Saul’s attacks on the disciples of Jesus equated to an attack on Jesus.
Saul of Tarsus had been arresting the followers of Jesus—not Jesus because by then Jesus had already resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven. But Jesus views Saul’s attack on the church as an attack on him.
What makes this relevant concerns what we learned about the church above to be Jesus’ witnesses and prayer. Jesus stated clearly to the Apostles, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, NIV). Jesus does not take away persecutions and trials but will be present with us during these events. He encourages his followers, “On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit ” (Mark 13:9b-11, NIV).
Jesus mentions the Holy Spirit speaking on their behalf. This fits in with his statement to be with believers to the end of the age. The Holy Spirit acts as Jesus’ representative while Jesus is away preparing a place for the church in heaven. The church’s task is to be ready to witness no matter the circumstance. Likewise, Jesus supports his church witnessing by being with them. This is the point of the church prayer in Acts 4:27-30. They knew they would face trials like Jesus, Peter and John, but they also asked God for boldness to witness in the face of persecution.
Luke recorded what immediately occurred following their prayer. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken” (Acts 4:31, NIV). It may be coincidental that an earth tremor moved the ground following their prayer for boldness to witness. But Luke concludes the event surrounding Peter and John’s arrest and the church’s prayer with a statement declaring the church’s intent despite political expediency or other obstacles. He states, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (v. 31, NIV). We have so much to learn from the book of Acts about how Jesus prepared the church, and how he armed us with prayer as a direct line to himself and the Father - let's truly take the power of prayer to heart as we go through life.
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[1] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
[2] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Herod Agrippa I". Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 May. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herod-Agrippa-I. Accessed 21 October 2024.
[3] AICE. (n.d.). Ambrosius° Macrobius. Macrobius, Ambrosius°. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/macrobius-ambrosius-x00b0
[4] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Pontius Pilate". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pontius-Pilate. Accessed 21 October 2024.
Photo Credits:
Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash
Photo by Alex Woods on Unsplash
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