fore his appointed execution, Peter, bound with chains,
slept between the two soldiers, as usual. Herod, remembering the escape
of Peter and John from prison, where they had been confined because
of their faith, took double precautions on this occasion. The soldiers on
guard, in order to secure their extra vigilance, were made answerable for
the safekeeping of the prisoner. He was bound, as has been described,
in a cell of massive rock, the doors of which were bolted and barred.
Sixteen men were detailed to guard this cell, relieving each other at regular
intervals. Four comprised the watch at one time. But the bolts and bars
and Roman guard, which effectually cut off from the prisoner a possibility
of human aid, were only to result in making the triumph of God more
complete in Peter’s deliverance from prison. Herod was lifting his hand
against Omnipotence, and he was to be utterly humiliated and defeated in
his attempt upon the life of the servant of God.
Delivered by an Angel
On this last night before the execution a mighty angel, commissioned
from heaven, descended to rescue him. The strong gates which shut in the
saint of God open without the aid of human hands; the angel of the Most
High enters, and they close again noiselessly behind him. He enters the
cell, hewn from the solid rock, and there lies Peter, sleeping the blessed,
peaceful sleep of innocence and perfect trust in God, while chained to a
powerful guard on either side of him. The
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light which envelopes the angel illuminates the prison, but does not waken
the sleeping apostle. His is the sound repose that invigorates and renews
and that comes of a good conscience.
Peter is not awakened until he feels the stroke of the angel’s hand
and hears his voice saying, “Arise up quickly.” He sees his cell, which
had never been blessed by a ray of sunshine, illuminated by the light of
heaven, and an angel of great glory standing before him. He mechanically
obeys the voice of the angel; and in rising lifts his hands, and finds that
the chains have been broken from his wrists. Again the voice of the angel
is heard: “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.”
Again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riveted
upon his heavenly visitant, and believing himself to be dreaming, or in
a vision. The armed soldiers are passive as if chiseled from marble, as
the angel again commands, “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow
me.” Thereupon the heavenly being moves toward the door, and the
usually talkative Peter follows, dumb from amazement. They step over
the motionless guard and reach the heavily bolted and barred door, which
swings open of its own accord and closes again immediately; while the
guard within and outside the door are motionless at their posts.
The second gate, which is also guarded within and without, is reached;
it opens as did the first, with no creaking of hinges or rattling of iron bolts;
they pass without, and it closes again as noiselessly. They pass through
the third gateway in the same manner, and at last find themselves in the
open street. No word is spoken; there is no sound of footstep; the angel
glides on before, encircled by a light of dazzling brightness, and Peter
follows his deliverer, bewildered, and believing himself to be in a dream.
Street after street is
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threaded thus, and then, the mission of the angel being completed, he
suddenly disappears.
As the heavenly light faded away, Peter felt himself to be in profound
darkness; but gradually the darkness seemed to decrease, as he became
accustomed to it, and he found himself alone in the silent street, with the
cool night air upon his brow. He now realized that it was no dream or
vision that had visited him. He was free, in a familiar part of the city;
he recognized the place as one which he had often frequented, and had
expected to pass for the last time on the morrow, when on the way to the
scene of his prospective death. He tried to recall the events of the last few
moments. He remembered falling asleep, bound between the two soldiers,
with his sandals and outer garment removed. He examined his person and
found himself fully dressed, and girded.
His wrists, swollen from wearing the cruel irons, were now free from
the manacles, and he realized that his freedom was no delusion, but a
blessed reality. On the morrow he was to have been led forth to die; but
lo, an angel had delivered him from prison and from death. “And when
Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord
hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and
from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”
The Answer to Prayer
The apostle made his way direct to the house where his brethren were
assembled together for prayer; he found them engaged in earnest prayer
for him at that moment. “And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate,
a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s
voice, she opened not the gate
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for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And
they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was
even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking:
and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared
unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said,
Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed,
and went into another place.”
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Joy and praise filled the hearts of the fasting, praying believers, that
God had heard and answered their prayers, and delivered Peter from the
hand of Herod. In the morning the people gathered together to witness the
execution of the apostle. Herod sent officers to bring Peter from prison
with great display of arms and guard, in order to ensure against his escape,
to intimidate all sympathizers, and to exhibit his own power. There was
the guard at the door of the prison, the bolts a
