In Acts 12, the apostle Peter was arrested under orders by Herod (v. 3) who then placed Peter in prison under maximum security (v. 4), likely to be executed after the Passover feast to the delight of the Jews (vv. 3-4). But (v. 5):
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
The very next verses (vv. 6-10) tell of the impact of their prayer, and is testimony to the adage: God is seldom early, but He’s never late! The very night that Herod was about to bring Peter before the Jews, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and awoke Peter. His chains – that bound him to two of the guards – fell off, and the angel proceeded to guide him out of the prison past all the prison guards. Peter made his way to the house where the believers were praying.
The believers did not have enough political influence to keep Peter out of prison, but they had enough spiritual power to pray him out. And it was not their great faith that did it. It was their weak faith in a great and sovereign God. The truth is, Peter was amazed when it happened. Verse 9 says he thought it was all a vision. Finally when he came to himself (v. 11) he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord sent forth His angel and rescued me…” And the believers were amazed, even unbelieving at first, that it was Peter himself who had returned to them.
Can we remember this powerful lesson in our day when worldly governments who oppose the Jesus of the Bible increasingly oppose His people? I encourage us all to seize the moment provided by the National Day of Prayer to pause from our too harried lives, that we might humble ourselves and pray, and seek the Lord’s face, and turn from our own wicked ways (2 Chron. 7:14). And may we be amazed at what our great and sovereign God does as we pray in Jesus’ name in the power of His Spirit.
Yours and His,
Pastor Ed