Peter in Prison

“Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.” — Acts 12:5

There was a king called Herod, who ruled over Judea. He was the grandson of the King Herod who tried to kill baby Jesus. And this King Herod began to attack the church.

He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. James was one of Jesus’ first followers, one of the fishermen who left their nets.

When Herod saw that this pleased some of the people, he arrested Peter too. It was the time of the Passover festival. Herod put Peter in prison, with four groups of four soldiers to guard him. He planned to put Peter on trial after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison. But the church was praying hard to God for him.

On the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was asleep, chained between two soldiers. More guards stood at the prison door.

Peter was sleeping! He knew he might be put to death the next day. But he was so peaceful, trusting God, that he fell fast asleep.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said.

And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists!

“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did. “Wrap your coat around you and follow me,” said the angel.

So Peter followed him out of the prison. But he didn’t know if it was really happening. He thought he must be dreaming!

They walked past the first guard, and then the second. Then they came to the big iron gate that led out into the city. And it opened for them all by itself!

They went out and walked to the end of the street. Then suddenly the angel was gone.

Peter stood there in the night air. And at last he realised it was real. “Now I know for sure,” he said, “that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod!”

James had died, and Peter had been rescued. We don’t always understand why God rescues some people and not others. But God was with both of them. James went to be with Jesus, and Peter was set free to keep on telling people about Him.

And the church had been praying. God heard their prayers.

Herod tried to stop the good news. But the Bible says, “the word of God continued to spread and multiply.”

Read it in your Bible: Acts 12:1–11, 24

Dear God, thank you that you hear the prayers of your people. Thank you that you can set people free. Help me to pray for people who are in trouble, and to trust you, even when I don’t understand. Amen.