Daily Bible Reading: Judges 8, Acts 12, Jeremiah 21, Mark 7
God’s in the Business of Releasing Prisoners
I love the way God does things that often surprise us. In Acts 5 He released the apostles from prison and locked the door after them; told them to go stand in the temple and teach the people. Now in Acts 12 we are told that Herod had executed James, the brother of John. The Jews were really pleased about this, so Herod seized Peter and threw him in prison, intending to put him to a public trial which would result in his death also.
We aren’t told how long Peter was in prison, but the night before Herod intended to put him on trial, an angel of the Lord appeared in Peter’s cell, lighting it up. (Do you think God waited until the perfect time to do this? What a blow to Herod!!!) Peter was guarded round-the-clock by a rotating squad of four soldiers. Evidently Peter was filled with the peace of God because even in prison he was sleeping soundly although there was a soldier on each side of him and two chains binding his wrists. The angel had to strike Peter on his side to wake him up. As Peter got up the chains fell off.
Peter followed the angel out of the prison, past the first and second guards to the iron gate, and it opened by itself. (Don’t you just love that!!!) Peter didn’t realize this was really happening; he thought it was a vision or dream. The angel took him to the end of the street and left him. When Peter finally realized he was really free he went to the house of Mark’s mother and knocked on the door.
Even though the church had been praying for Peter, they didn’t believe it was really him when Rhoda answered his knock. And she was so shocked she didn’t open the door for him but left him standing there knocking and knocking. (I can just see it happening in my mind.) The rest of the people told Rhoda she was out of her mind. (They weren’t expecting this kind of a surprise from God.)
Another thing I love about this story. The soldiers didn’t realize until morning that Peter was gone. The Lord must have sprinkled them with holy sleeping dust. But when they did discover he was gone “there was no small commotion among the soldiers.” What an understatement. Then Herod had those soldiers executed.
Sometimes we feel boxed in by circumstances, or even a prisoner of them. But God is in the business of releasing prisoners. Even if our circumstances don’t change, we don’t have to be a prisoner of them. Jesus said he was sent to proclaim freedom for prisoners. (Luke 4:18) Do you have a situation where you feel bound, or at least don’t have the freedom that you would really like to have? Jesus said “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…….If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” John 8:31, 36. Just as the chains fell from Peter in the presence of the angel of the Lord, we can experience the freedom we desire in the presence of the Lord.
God is good all the time,
God’s in the Business of Releasing Prisoners
I love the way God does things that often surprise us. In Acts 5 He released the apostles from prison and locked the door after them; told them to go stand in the temple and teach the people. Now in Acts 12 we are told that Herod had executed James, the brother of John. The Jews were really pleased about this, so Herod seized Peter and threw him in prison, intending to put him to a public trial which would result in his death also.
We aren’t told how long Peter was in prison, but the night before Herod intended to put him on trial, an angel of the Lord appeared in Peter’s cell, lighting it up. (Do you think God waited until the perfect time to do this? What a blow to Herod!!!) Peter was guarded round-the-clock by a rotating squad of four soldiers. Evidently Peter was filled with the peace of God because even in prison he was sleeping soundly although there was a soldier on each side of him and two chains binding his wrists. The angel had to strike Peter on his side to wake him up. As Peter got up the chains fell off.
Peter followed the angel out of the prison, past the first and second guards to the iron gate, and it opened by itself. (Don’t you just love that!!!) Peter didn’t realize this was really happening; he thought it was a vision or dream. The angel took him to the end of the street and left him. When Peter finally realized he was really free he went to the house of Mark’s mother and knocked on the door.
Even though the church had been praying for Peter, they didn’t believe it was really him when Rhoda answered his knock. And she was so shocked she didn’t open the door for him but left him standing there knocking and knocking. (I can just see it happening in my mind.) The rest of the people told Rhoda she was out of her mind. (They weren’t expecting this kind of a surprise from God.)
Another thing I love about this story. The soldiers didn’t realize until morning that Peter was gone. The Lord must have sprinkled them with holy sleeping dust. But when they did discover he was gone “there was no small commotion among the soldiers.” What an understatement. Then Herod had those soldiers executed.
Sometimes we feel boxed in by circumstances, or even a prisoner of them. But God is in the business of releasing prisoners. Even if our circumstances don’t change, we don’t have to be a prisoner of them. Jesus said he was sent to proclaim freedom for prisoners. (Luke 4:18) Do you have a situation where you feel bound, or at least don’t have the freedom that you would really like to have? Jesus said “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…….If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” John 8:31, 36. Just as the chains fell from Peter in the presence of the angel of the Lord, we can experience the freedom we desire in the presence of the Lord.
God is good all the time,
3 comments:
Great imagery with this passage!
I agree with Mel I loved the imagery. I have read this scripture several times but I just now got that Peter was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to wake him up. What a great principle that even though Peter was in prison in less than desirable circumstances he was content to rest in the Lord and obviously had faith to know God would take care of the rest, that his freedom could only come through God.
Genial fill someone in on and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you for your information.
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