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Acts 12     English Standard Version (ESV)

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

¹ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword, ³ and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter Is Rescued

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

REFLECTION:

• New persecution under Herod Agrippa is aimed at Christian leaders in Jerusalem. James is the first of the twelve disciples to be martyred.
• What does the church’s response to James’s death and Peter being in prison demonstrate about prayer (vv. 2, 5)? Why did the praying Christians react as they did to Peter’s return?
• Recall a time when God answered one of your prayers. Thank Him for the joy and encouragement you received from His gracious blessing upon you.
• Think of a desperate prayer request or need that you have. Place it before God and ask Him to give you the faith to believe that He will answer your prayer and give you “the desires of your heart.”

PRAYER:

O Heavenly Father, sometimes I feel like a prisoner, confined in the cage of sin, unable to see the light or hear Your voice. I cry out to You in the bright sunshine, longing to behold Your glorious splendor and hear Your heavenly words, but You only respond with the changing clouds and the gentle singing of the leaves, and my heart remains in darkness! I keep asking You, why do You hide Your face from me? Why do You turn away and not listen to me? Until I suddenly realize that it is not You who have abandoned me, but my own worldly desires that have separated me from You. When I repent with deep sorrow, I lift up my head and look around, listening carefully, and I see Your angels in every floating cloud, filled with Your glory; I recognize Your voice in the gentle singing of every leaf, brimming with Your love. I hear You speaking to me with infinite tenderness, saying, “My beloved child, what is it that your heart desires? Why are you saddened? Behold, I am making all things new! Come, I will break the cages in your heart, unlock the chains from your hands, and renew your mind and spirit! Go, and soar with the angels I have sent! In this way, my sorrow dissipates like dark clouds, and my spirit rejoices, for in my submission to You, I have received Your abundant grace and the great freedom and joy of life. Amen!

HYMN:

By Faith – youtu.be/mnr3ZITKZSk