Acts 12:1 says, Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. Verse two adds, And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. Herod decided to vex certain of the church, and killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. Physical needs were not being met, religious leaders were opposing them, and now the government was killing the followers of Christ, His church. So, we think things are bad today? I hear people say, "I'd like to preach like Peter and write like Paul," but I never hear, "I'd like to die like Stephen or James." Maybe if we gave all as Stephen and James did, and also Peter and Paul did, God could accomplish as much through us. Verse three continues, And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) When Herod saw that it pleased people that he had killed James, he proceeded to take Peter. He was willing to do anything to increase his popularity, and there are people today who will do anything they can to harm the church if it makes them more popular. Verse four states, And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Herod had Peter put in prison under a very large guard. His intention was to bring him to the people after Easter. The people would have been the Jews, God’s chosen people, who were now working against Him. As Christians, we should never be guilty of doing anything that works against God and the spreading of the Gospel. Verse five adds, Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. While Peter was in prison, his fellow believers were praying to God for him without ceasing. They weren’t making plans to storm the prison but were praying for him instead. Our greatest weapon against evil in the world today is sincere prayer to God, Verse six continues, 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. The night before Herod would have brought Peter to the people, he was sleeping between two guards, bound with two chains, and had the keepers of the prison at the door. Herod was taking no chances in securing Peter. No matter how hard people may try, they cannot contain God’s word and work as long as those doing it are faithfully doing so. Verse seven declares, And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. While Peter was sleeping, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shined in the prison. This was something Herod had not planned for. The angel hit Peter on the side and told him to get up quickly and the chains fell off. When God is ready to do a great work in our life, we need to be awake and ready to act. Verse eight adds, And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. The angel basically told Peter to get dressed, get his shoes on, and follow him. Peter had to follow the angel by faith, and acting by faith is still all we can do today. Peter had no guarantee of the outcome, and neither will we today, other than the fact that whatever happens, like Peter, we are spiritually forever safe in God’s arms. Verse nine continues, And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. Peter went with the angel, even though he wasn’t sure if this was truly happening or if he was just having a vision or dream. If things at times seem to be too good to be true when we are serving God, all we can do is follow by faith anyway. Verse ten concludes, When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. When they passed the first and second wards and got to the iron gate that led outside, it opened for them of its own accord. Peter and the angel went out, but as soon as they were successfully outside, the angel departed. The angel had fulfilled his mission and now Peter was outside the prison but on his own. We cannot expect angels to be with us continually, but that is okay, because we have One even greater with us at all times, and that is the Holy Spirit.
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