Friday, March 16, 2007
Free
King Herod arrested some of the people who belonged to the Church and persecuted them. He put James, the brother of John, to death. This pleased the Jewish leaders. Herod noticed this and decided to persecute the Church even more. Herod arrested Peter and put him in prison. He intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
The Church prayed for Peter without ceasing. Although we don't know what Peter was thinking, he had suffered persecution in the past. He had seen God's power. Yet it would be hard for him to forget that one of his close friends had just been put to death. Maybe Peter thought his hour had come. Maybe he simply trusted God and did not worry.
Bound with two chains, he must have recalled what had happened to Jesus. He may have remembered how Jesus had prophesied his death and talked about the glory of being persecuted for God.
Peter had been fearless ever since receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. But he probably had a lot of time to think while in prison. He obviously felt secure enough to fall asleep.
The night before he was supposed to go to trial, he was suddenly awakened by an angel of the Lord. The angel told Peter to get up and put on his clothes and sandals. The chains fell off as Peter did as directed. He followed the angel out of prison. The iron gate opened by itself. After walking only one street away, the angel left Peter.
As it all happened, Peter was not sure if it was a vision or reality. He suddenly came to his senses and realized that God had freed him. He went to tell the Christians who were praying for him what had happened. At first they didn't believe it was him at the door. They thought the servant girl had just seen an angel or Peter's spirit. These people who had been praying for a miracle were not apt to really believe. But God showed faithful any way. Peter gave a message to the Christians there and then left town to escape Herod's grasp.
Once again God had showed that he was stronger than any earthly ruler. Peter knew that the Lord was not finished with him yet. His time had not yet come. This episode must have further strengthened Peter's trust in God and resolve to press on against all odds.
The Church prayed for Peter without ceasing. Although we don't know what Peter was thinking, he had suffered persecution in the past. He had seen God's power. Yet it would be hard for him to forget that one of his close friends had just been put to death. Maybe Peter thought his hour had come. Maybe he simply trusted God and did not worry.
Bound with two chains, he must have recalled what had happened to Jesus. He may have remembered how Jesus had prophesied his death and talked about the glory of being persecuted for God.
Peter had been fearless ever since receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. But he probably had a lot of time to think while in prison. He obviously felt secure enough to fall asleep.
The night before he was supposed to go to trial, he was suddenly awakened by an angel of the Lord. The angel told Peter to get up and put on his clothes and sandals. The chains fell off as Peter did as directed. He followed the angel out of prison. The iron gate opened by itself. After walking only one street away, the angel left Peter.
As it all happened, Peter was not sure if it was a vision or reality. He suddenly came to his senses and realized that God had freed him. He went to tell the Christians who were praying for him what had happened. At first they didn't believe it was him at the door. They thought the servant girl had just seen an angel or Peter's spirit. These people who had been praying for a miracle were not apt to really believe. But God showed faithful any way. Peter gave a message to the Christians there and then left town to escape Herod's grasp.
Once again God had showed that he was stronger than any earthly ruler. Peter knew that the Lord was not finished with him yet. His time had not yet come. This episode must have further strengthened Peter's trust in God and resolve to press on against all odds.
