Acts 12:1-25
Now about that
time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter
also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to
four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to
the people after the Passover.
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made
by the assembly to God for him.
The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the
door kept the prison.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in
the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up
quickly!" His chains fell off from his hands.
The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your
sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow
me."
And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being
done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the
iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went
out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that
the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and
from everything the Jewish people were expecting."
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John
whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to
answer.
When she recognized Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate for joy,
but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it
was so. They said, "It is his angel."
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and
were amazed.
But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them
how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these
things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to
another place.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter.
When Herod had sought for him, and didn't find him, he examined the
guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea
to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came
with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's chamberlain, their
friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's
country for food.
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on
the throne, and gave a speech to them.
The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give
God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their
service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
Insight- James was the first of the 12 disciples to be martyred. King
Herod had Peter arrested too and put him in prison, but he was miraculously
delivered by an angel. The believers who were interceding for Peter were amazed
when Peter came to meet them after he was set free by the angel of the Lord. A
divine judgment came upon Herod because of his pride and cruelty; he was struck
by an angel of the Lord and he died.
Question- When you pray, do you really believe that God can do an
astounding miracle for you as he did in the life of Peter?
Prayer- Dear Father in heaven, help me to believe that you can do
amazing things for me as I pray and seek your face each day. In Jesus name.
Amen.
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