A question of innocence.

When civilians are killed during war time we often hear about how the innocent were killed.  But were they really innocent?  They supported what their leaders were doing.  Or at least they didn't oppose their leaders. 

You're probably wondering where I am going with this.  Let me set up this piece of Scripture and then I will explain on the other side.

This is the story of how Peter was in jail and an Angel came and got him out.  There were many guards there who were to make sure that Peter didn't get away and they failed.  Therefore Herod had them killed.

Acts 12:18-19(NKJV)

Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 

But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

The guards were killed for not doing their job, they let Peter escape.  There are many who might say "that wasn't fair, God supernaturally through His Angel helped Peter escape.  Therefore the guards were innocent.". 

Were they?  I would suggest that the fact that they were there working to suppress God's word makes them anything but innocent.