So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird 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 continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
Peter was in prison, but the church was praying to God fervently and persistently. On the same night Herod was going to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping chained between two soldiers with watchman outside the door guarding the prison. Suddenly, an angel was standing beside Him, and a light shone where he was and shook him awake and got him up saying, "Hurry!" as the chains fell off of his hands.
And the angel said, "Tighten your belt and fasten your sandals, wrap up your garment around you, and follow me." And Peter did all that he was told, following the angel out of the prison, thinking that maybe this was just a vision.
They passed both guards and came to the gate that leads out of the city. It swung open all on its own, and they passed through it. After one street, the angel left him.
Then Peter came to his senses and said, "That was real and not a vision! The Lord sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and all the Jewish people."
In this full awareness, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark. There were a large number assembled together and were praying there. When he knocked on the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so filled with joy, she forgot to open the gate, but ran and told the people that Peter was there.
The people there thought she was crazy and said so. But she strongly affirmed that it was true. But they thought it must be Peter's angel.
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking outside, and they opened the gate and were astonished to see Peter standing there in the flesh!
I WILL
Pray with my Kingdom Community today for the release of Saeed Abedini.
(We did it yesterday afternoon!)
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