Acts 12 - Peter Gets An Angel Escort!


12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 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.
Click Here to Read the Rest of Acts 12
King Herod, who was a client king of the Romans, wanted to keep the peace where he governed in Judea.  The new Christian movement was seen as a threat to the peace.  Herod wanted to keep the Jews happy so they would continue to pay their taxes and not disturb the peace.  When James the brother of John was executed by the sword, Herod saw it pleased the Jews.  So they arrested Peter probably intending to do the same. 
But something changed the trajectory of this situation.  The church was praying "earnestly" for Peter.  Herod wished to bring him out for a public trial around Passover.  This story seems eerily similar to Jesus' trial around the Passover.  But miraculously an angel appears to Peter and strikes off his chains, and then miraculously ushers Peter out of jail past two sets of guards.  The price for the four prison guards for letting Peter out of their clutches, execution at the order of merciless Herod.    
This miracle did much to encourage and strengthen the church, and I am sure their belief in the power of prayer.  Persecution is a real threat today to many Christians on other continents.  We often get used to our freedoms to proclaim and practice our Christian faith, while others lives are endangered for naming the name of Jesus.  Let's pray for those who are persecuted.  After all they are our brother and sisters in the faith!  

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