GOD ANSWERS THE PRAYERS FOR PETER

Acts 12:5-6 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Because the execution of the apostle James, by Herod Agrippa, pleased the Jewish people that zealously clung to the Old Testament law, he proceeded further to take Peter also. And also because this took place during Passover (the days of unleavened bread), in which trials and executions must be suspended, Peter was placed in prison. He was kept there under the security of four quaternions of soldiers, with the intention of bringing him forth to the people after the days of celebration came to an end. Realizing the danger that Peter would possibly face the same fate as that of James, the members of the church of Christ in Jerusalem came together, and with a unified voice, petitioned God to intervene and save this revered apostle. Seemingly lost as to what they could possibly do, prayer to God was deemed to be the only source of intervention they could find. They prayed without ceasing - they prayed ardently, fervently, and continually unto God for him, for his safety, and for his deliverance from imprisonment.

At the end of the Passover celebration, Herod intended to have Peter brought out of prison so he could execute his judgment on him before the Jewish people, in order to please their desire to suppress the expansion of Christianity and, ultimately, to stamp it out. During the night prior to this taking place, Peter was securely bound with two chains, with a quaternion of soldiers guarding him. Two soldiers were beside him while the two other soldiers were guarding at the door of the prison cell.

Verses 7 through 11 continue the story of the miraculous answer to the fervent prayers of the members of the church at Jerusalem. And God, in His righteous, did, indeed, intervene. An angel of the Lord came upon him (Peter), and a light shined in the prison. The source of this light is not revealed. However, it could have come from the shining apparel of God's angel similar to that described in Luke 2:9 and 24:4. The angel smote Peter on the side, and raised him up. That is, the angel roused Peter and caused him to awaken from his sleep. As the angel of God commanded Peter to arise up quickly, ...his chains fell off from his hands. Indeed, this was a miraculous intervention by God. Without rousing the guards that were beside Peter and without being noticed by the soldiers guarding the door to his prison cell, the light shown throughout the prison and the chains fell off of Peter's hands. The commands of the angel to gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals, (and) ...cast (or put on) thy garments, Peter immediately obeyed, and, following the angel, Peter went out of the prison without being seen or being hindered by the soldiers that were assigned to guard him.

As the angel of God led Peter, they passed unnoticed and unhindered through the first and the second ward, or guard stations having gates of passage, which led to the iron gate that leadeth unto the city. This last gate, which no doubt had been securely locked and sealed, opened to them of his (its) own accord as they approached it. It was probably the strongest of all gates that they passed through, and was the final gate of the prison that led out into the city of Jerusalem. Having accomplished his mission of the secret release of Peter from his imprisonment, the angel sent from God departed from him.

God's miraculous powers were needed where Peter's physical abilities were insufficient to cope with the danger, which threatened his life. Once freed from his imprisonment, God left Peter to fend for himself. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. Undoubtedly Peter was bewildered, and even amazed, by the fact that he had been saved from the evils that awaited him by the hand of Herod. When he had completely regained his total awareness of this fact, he said to himself, Now I know of a surety, that is, he now fully realized with assurance, and confessed the fact, that God had miraculously intervened by sending His angel to free him from the fate of death by the same sword that executed the apostle James. This is exactly what was anticipated and desired by the people of the Jews. Let every Christian, like Peter, come to himself and place their complete faith in the saving power of Almighty God.