The Sword of Satan is still killing the Saints of God

Baptist Daily Devotional
Jul 3
3 min read

Rev. Tse Amable | July 3 2025 | Acts 12:1-4

KEY VERSE: “He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. Acts 12:2 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Acts 11 ended with some good news about the spread of the gospel—the church outside Jerusalem. One of the weapons Satan has used from the beginning of time is death. From the assassination of Stephen, many followers of Jesus Christ were put to death. Hebrews 11:37 tells us some *“were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword”*. All 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ were tortured and killed in bizarre ways. For example, according to Church tradition, Apostle Peter was crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross. Apostle Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded. Apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero.

Satan used the weapon of death because he knew human beings fear death. The Bible tells us that *Jesus Christ shared in our humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death* (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus Christ taught us *“not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”* (Matthew 10:28).

Do not fear dying for your faith because *“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”* (Psalms 116:15). Remember the words of Apostle Paul: “FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN” (Philippians 1:21).

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

What would you do if you stood in front of a persecutor ready to kill you because you are a follower of Jesus Christ? The Bible commands us to “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). How do you remember those in prison, who are mistreated and killed for Christ?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I thank you for defeating death and now have the keys of death and hades. Grant us the grace to live for you, not loving our lives even unto death. May we not deny you when our persecutors are about to kill us on account of our faith in you. Amen!

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 184: 2 Samuel 18 - Absalom’s Death and David’s Grief

DAILY word study: SWORD The Greek word for “sword” in Acts 12:2 is machaira (μάχαιρα), a short dagger or curved blade used in close combat.

It symbolises not just physical death but targeted violence, especially in persecution.

In Scripture, the sword is a double-edged image. It can represent judgment (Romans 13:4) or the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). In this passage, it represents Satan’s ongoing weapon against God’s people, yet one that Jesus has overcome.

Reflection:

Even when Satan draws the sword, God is still King. Death may come, but so does eternal life.