Peter Freed From Prison

“When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” -Acts 12:10-11 (NKJV. Read Acts 12:1-19).

Persecution was rife in the early church. At first, it was against the disciples and believers by the Jews themselves. They were greatly jealous of “the new religion” and the followers who were listening to Peter and the other disciples. They sought to stop the movement by not allowing them to preach in Jerusalem. As a result, we are told in Acts 8:4: “Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Because of this dispersion, Gentiles as well as Jews were hearing the Good News and accepting salvation by grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the Roman rulers took up the persecution. It was Herod who had Peter cast into prison, chained and with four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod intended that no natural or supernatural means were used to free Peter from prison. But God had a means which Herod did not anticipate. An angel of the Lord awakened Peter and escorted him from the prison and through the gates. Peter was free from his shackles and imprisonment. He made his way to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark where the believers were gathered, praying.

Even though the gathered Christians had been praying for Peter, they were surprised and unbelieving when young Rhoda told them Peter was at the gate. Is this not like us sometimes? We pray for specific things to be done. And when the Lord answers our prayers, we are surprised. In such cases, this is our condemnation: “Oh, ye of little faith!”

Peter was not the only one freed that night. His supporters and other Christians learned a great lesson: “Pray, believing.” They were freed from unbelief that prayers would be answered. Peter’s release from prison was proof indeed that God performs miracles. Whatever prison binds us, God can remove the shackles. Pray.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, April 23, 2010