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

Paul, from Persecutor to Proclaimer

“Now Saul was consenting to his (Stephen’s) death…As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women committing them to prison…Immediately there fell from his [Paul’s] eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Sual spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” – Acts 8:1, 3; 9:18-20 (NKJV. Read Acts 8 and 9).

Paul, from persecutor to proclaimer, from adversary to apostle, from imprisoner of Christians to impassioned preacher. What a dramatic change God wrought in the life of Saul, better known as Paul the Apostle. We read with awe and rejoicing the amazing conversion of Saul, and how God worked in his life to bring the miracle of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and Paul’s total commitment to the Lord’s cause.

We could say this was predestined—and it was. God knew from the foundation of the world that Paul would become His unparalleled witness to the Gentiles. But at the same time that God knew this, and was working out the details (some of which in retrospect, definitely seem to us to be contrary to the will of God), Saul had a choice. When he was blinded on the Damascus Road on his way to persecute more Christians, he could have chosen not to heed the Light that came to him, hear the Voice that called to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4).

But Saul answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Notice Paul’s immediate recognition of someone Mighty and with great power to get his attention. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9:5).

Why such a dramatic conversion? Why a Light and Voice from heaven? Much has been written about Paul’s turning from persecutor of the church to outstanding preacher, proclaimer, missionary and writer. He called himself “a Jew of the Jews,” well-trained and well-grounded in Jewish law, prophecy, tradition and practice. He was as zealous in his persecution of the hated Christians as he was later in the bold proclamation of the Truth. His conversion is a grand testimony of the power of God to enter and change a life completely. That same power experienced by Paul is still at work today, converting anyone who will choose to turn from his/her old way of life to the new life offered by the Son of God. Selah.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, April 17, 2010