James, one of the disciples of Jesus, was killed by the sword at the orders of Herod Agrippa I. Herod found that this pleased the Jewish leaders and he had Peter arrested.
Peter was imprisoned and chained between two soldiers… and there were two more soldiers outside the door of the prison on high alert. Security was tight… but not tight enough to thwart God’s plans. Acts 12:6
Can you imagine sleeping chained between two soldiers? I can’t either. But that is exactly what Peter did. Acts 12:6 Asleep, did Peter have any idea that God would rescue him? As we look at the rest of the story, I don’t think he had even a clue.
Herod’s plan for the next day was to bring Peter before the people to publicly execute him. That would please the Jewish leaders who were against anything to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 12:3-4
Meanwhile in another part of the city of Jerusalem, believers were praying ~ fervently ~ to God for Peter.
On that night an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in the cell where Peter was sleeping. A light shone in the cell… yet that didn’t wake Peter up. Talk about a sound sleeper! The angel hit Peter’s side and that did the trick… Peter woke up. The angel told him, “Get up quickly.” And Peter’s chains fell off of his wrists.
Acts 12:7
The angel then told Peter everything he was to do… tighten your belt, put on your sandals… put on your cloak and follow me. Peter did everything he was told to do. Acts 12:8
Do you follow God’s word, His every word, in obedience as Peter did?
Peter followed the angel out of the cell… and the whole time he really thought he was having a vision, not realizing that what was happening was real. (Acts 12:9)
They passed the first guard, then the second guard. They came to the iron gate that led into Jerusalem… and surprisingly, it opened. Peter followed the angel out and after the length of one street, he was left – alone. Acts 12:10
Only then did Peter realize he was not having a dream or a vision… reality hit him.
(NASB) Acts 12:11 “…‘Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’”
How does God rescue His people from evil intentions against them? He uses a variety of ways and means. For James Acts 12:2, he was rescued through dying. For Peter, he was rescued by God’s timely intervention through an angel.
God is not limited by how He rescues His people… and all of it is for His glory. Do you have a story of how God has rescued you in the past? How about today? God is still at work.
~ Take it to heart ~
Jesus spoke of the persecutions that would occur because of believing in Him… that has not changed.
(NIV) Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”