Peter is imprisoned until after Passover, guarded by a small army of soldiers inside the prison, awaiting execution perhaps as brutal as that which Jesus endured. But recall from Verse 5 that earnest prayers of the entire church in unity are raining down on the Jewish rulers:
“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. 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” (Ac 12:6-7).
Paul has been sound asleep. Is that what I would do, knowing that I faced inhumane execution as soon as the sun sets? No, I would be wide awake and shaking in my boots. Note first that Peter appears to be at peace, regardless of the outcome. Recall second that the entire church is praying in perfect unity.
Perfect peace, perfect unity, perfect timing:
“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.’ 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” (Ac 12:8-9).
Does something have you feeling imprisoned today? The God of all power is well aware of your situation. And he gives four commands: rise up to face the day; dress yourself for action; protect yourself from the elements (physical and demonic!); and follow my angel whom I send at the perfect moment, though it may not seem that way to you!
“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” (Ac 12:10).
When you seek and obtain peace through the flow of the Holy Spirit into your imprisonment and have a community of believers praying for you in perfect unity, watch for God’s perfect timing. Expect it. Claim it. And hang on in prayer and faith. What will you see?
Unmolested movement past barriers that seem frozen and impenetrable? There was no earthquake here – the gates opened all by themselves – locked iron gates opening of their own accord, but surely moving open by the invisible hand of God.
“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’” (Ac 12:11).
Peter’s consciousness has been put on hold, as if in a dream, yet being wide awake.
This is how God works – in a problem that consumes us with worry and doubt, God is working whether we can perceive it or not. And then we suddenly “awaken” and are astonished at his never-ending love for us.
Don’t forget what made all this possible for Peter: the entire church earnestly praying in perfect unity!
Never, ever stop praying earnestly in perfect unity as a church or as a family or as a country!