**The Miraculous Deliverance of Peter**
In the days when King Herod Agrippa I ruled over Judea, the early church faced great persecution. Herod, eager to please the Jewish leaders and consolidate his power, sought to crush the growing movement of believers in Jesus. He had already seized James, the brother of John, and with the sword, he put him to death. Seeing that this pleased the Jewish leaders, Herod proceeded to arrest Peter as well. It was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a sacred time for the Jewish people, that Herod took Peter into custody. He ordered him to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter was bound with two chains, placed between two soldiers, while additional guards stood watch at the prison gates. Herod’s intention was clear: to ensure that Peter could not escape and to make a public spectacle of his execution. The church, however, was fervently praying to God for Peter’s deliverance. Night and day, their petitions rose like incense before the throne of heaven, interceding for their beloved apostle.
On the night before Herod planned to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping peacefully between the two soldiers. Though bound with chains, his heart was at rest, trusting in the sovereignty of God. Suddenly, a brilliant light filled the prison cell, and an angel of the Lord appeared beside him. The angel struck Peter on the side, waking him, and said, “Get up quickly!” As Peter stirred, the chains fell from his wrists. The angel continued, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” Peter obeyed, still in a daze, unsure whether he was dreaming or awake. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel instructed.
Peter followed the angel out of the cell, passing the first and second guard posts. When they came to the iron gate leading to the city, it swung open by itself. They walked through, and after they had gone a short distance, the angel suddenly disappeared. Peter, now fully awake, realized that this was no vision—God had sent His angel to rescue him from Herod’s clutches and from the fate that awaited him. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Peter made his way to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many believers had gathered to pray.
He knocked on the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she ran back inside without opening the gate, exclaiming, “Peter is at the door!” The believers, still deep in prayer, were incredulous. “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. But Rhoda insisted it was true. “It must be his angel,” they said, unable to believe that their prayers had been answered so miraculously.
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the gate and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned for them to be quiet and then recounted how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he instructed before leaving for another place, knowing that Herod’s wrath would soon be directed at the guards who had failed in their duty.
At dawn, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as they discovered Peter was missing. Herod ordered a thorough search, but Peter was nowhere to be found. In his fury, Herod interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. He then left Judea and went down to Caesarea, where he remained for a time.
Not long after, Herod was seated on his throne, dressed in his royal robes, delivering a public address. The people, eager to flatter him, shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Herod, consumed by pride, did not rebuke them or give glory to God. Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. Thus, the man who sought to destroy the church and exalt himself was brought low, while the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
The church, witnessing God’s power and faithfulness, grew stronger in their faith. They saw how He had delivered Peter from Herod’s grasp and how He had judged Herod for his arrogance. Through it all, they were reminded that the gates of hell could not prevail against the church, for the Lord was with them, working mightily on their behalf. And so, with boldness and joy, they continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior, to the ends of the earth.
