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Acts 12:1-11 (4/23) Apostle for the Feast of the Holy Great Martyr George, Trophybearer
Straight and Crooked: Acts 12:1-11, especially vs. 11:"...Now I know for certain that the
Lord...has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish
people."
The Herod named in this reading, the king who imprisoned Peter to please the Jews (vs. 3), ruled
over Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, that ruler who earlier
had slaughtered the infants of Bethlehem and from whom Joseph the betrothed fled with the
infant Jesus and the Theotokos. This younger Herod, often called Agrippa, was closely allied
with the Roman Imperial family. Keeping peace for them was the best way to assure his rule. As
a result, he was quite ready to "...harass some from the church" and execute the Lord's Apostles
(vss. 1,2). Like his Roman masters and his Uncle, Herod Antipas, who had beheaded the
Forerunner John (Mk. 6:14-28), this Herod may rightly be called an ungodly, presumptuous
tyrant, like the Emperor Diocletian who tortured and executed the martyr George.
Have you not found how easily you can be diverted in this life from "...straight paths for thy
feet..." (Prov. 4:26)? Solomon the wise urges you and me to "Turn not aside to the right hand nor
to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: [for God knows the ways on the right hand,
but those on the left are crooked:] and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in
peace" (Prov. 4:27). Hence, he commands, "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids
assent to just things" (Prov. 4:25). Your choices and mine in this life are straight or crooked.
If your eyes "look right on" (Prov. 4:25) - straight at the truth - you will never use your power,
position, or choices solely to please men (Acts 12:3), but always and only you will serve our
incarnate God through the prayers of His blessed servant George. Through the prayers of the
Holy Great Martyr, may you see straight and "find mercy from Christ God."
Notice how Herod Agrippa, "...stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
Then...killed James the brother of John with the sword...And...saw that it pleased the Jews..."
(vss. 1,2,3). One wrong step led to another, and encouraged him still further to arrest Peter, and
"...put him in prison..." (vs. 4). All these evil deeds aimed to please the crowds - the consummate
temptation of worldly minded, to foster one's own desires for popularity and acclaim.
You do not have to be a ruler with armies and the powers of the state behind you to take a
crooked turn, to make a mistake, to sell out for wrong ends. Children make false choices to gain
the approval of classmates and friends. Men and women often expend great energy to win the
favor of one they find attractive. Television and magazines bombard everyone with charm and
exaggerated advertisements simply to gain a sale, often making shoddy goods appear glamorous
and desirable. Little, undramatic choices can be deadly to your heart and soul. A wrong step can
lead you to further errors, even into serious sins, whose memories will dwell with you all your
days though you be forgiven of God Himself through confession, tears and sighs.
What help was there for Peter who lived for and told the truth? He "...had been with Jesus" (Acts
4:13), was "...filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:8), and boldly spoke the truth (Acts 4:13). The
same truth was at work in the Great Martyr George, as St. Nikolai of Zica records. He "...was in
service under the Emperor Diocletian. When this Emperor began a terrible persecution of
Christians, George came before him and boldly confessed that he was Christian." He underwent
terrible tortures ending in death, that he endured manfully, "...abhorring the rituals of delusion,
because they are profane." You too are united to Christ Jesus, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and
can choose Truth! Heed the Prophet Isaiah, "...walk in the light of the Lord" (Is. 2:5).
Let not the foot of pride come against me, nor let the hand of a sinner move me!
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