The Power of Prayer!
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
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. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
The persecution of the disciples continued in Acts 12. Stephen was killed by stoning, and now James the brother of John was put to death by the sword. It was one thing for Stephen, the first deacon to be killed, but now one of the original disciples and brother of John, the beloved disciple was killed. Peter, James, and John were considered Jesus' inner circle of close friends. When James and John asked Jesus in Mark 10 if they could sit at his right and left hand in the kingdom of God Jesus said, "Can you drink the cup I am about to drink or be baptized with the baptism i will be baptized with?" The brothers answered "Yes" and Jesus said, "You will indeed drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with."
The point is now one of the inner circle of Jesus' followers had been killed for their witness for Christ. I am sure it rattled the church. And now Peter their leader was seized by Herod as well. Herod saw how killing James pleased the crowds, and he was anxious to boost up his ratings even more. Herod had Peter guarded by not one, not two, not three, but four men, who guarded Peter at the risk of losing their lives if he escaped. Things did not look good for Peter, or the early church. But then something changed the course of history. In verse 5 we read,
"While Peter was still in prison, the church earnestly prayed for him." The Greek word for "earnestly" is "ektenos", which literally meant stretching a muscle to its limit. It is the same word which describes Jesus' prayer as he agonized in the garden of Gethsamene on the eve of his crucifixion. David Guzik says,
"In this contest, Herod had his soldiers and his prisons; but the church had the power of prayer. The outcome would soon be seen, and easily decided."
What can we learn from the early church's prayer that saved the great apostle Peter's life from certain death at the hands of King Herod.
1. The church prayed passionately. Too often our prayers are rote and lacking true passion. We forget the power of prayer that can move mountains. The early church clung to prayer trusting it could save their leader.
2. The church prayed to God. This may seem obvious but needs to be emphasized. When we pray, we have a direct line to God. We don't have to pray through the saints or go through other hoops. Our prayers rise as incense to God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pray, we come into the holy presence of the Almighty One who spoke heaven and earth into existence. Let's not forget that.
3. The church prayed expectantly. The church really believed their prayer could save Peter from death. They could have formed a plan to try and rescue Peter from prison, but they knew the best option was to rely on God in prayer. And their faith was rewarded as Peter walked into their gathering freed from prison by an angel. The believers gathered there were so astonished that the servant girl Rhoda didn't even let Peter in, and they thought she was out of her mind. When they went to see who was at the door their prayers were answered.
We see a lot going on in our world right now, and we often feel powerless to change it We might even pray but don't see our prayers being answered or changing anything, and it can be discouraging. But let's be like the early church who prayed "earnestly" and did not give up praying until Peter was freed.
Let's not just offer rote, lifeless prayers up to God. Let's pray passionately and expectantly to the God of the universe in the power of Jesus' name. God hears and answers the prayers of his people in ways we may never expect of imagine.
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