Scripture
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Reflection
As Pastor Willimon has observed, how ironic that in the same weekend, Passover weekend, when the Jews were celebrating their deliverance from Pharaoh, the Jewish leaders were imprisoning one of their own country mates. Each detail, the light shining in the cell, chains dropping off, doors opening all reinforce that nothing will stop God from accomplishing his will and purpose for Peter in bringing about the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ps. Dale).
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus and people?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- What is one way you can apply this truth to your life today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
There are 7.5 billion people and 196 countries in the world. How do we start to pray for them? Start with one nation; one that stirs your heart or catches your attention.