Peter's Escape From Prison

Peter's Escape From Prison
Acts 12:1-19

Now, there was a king named Herod that wanted to harm the church. And so he killed James, the brother of John with a sword. And when he saw that the Jews were pleased about that, he took Peter and put him in prison, and assigned many soldiers to watch over him, because Herod was going to bring Peter before the people. And so Peter was kept in prison, but the church prayed continuously to God for Peter.

And the night before Herod was going to bring Peter before the people, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, tied with two chains, and there were keepers outside the door which guarded the prison. And, all of a sudden, the angel of the Lord came to Peter, and a light shone in the prison, and the angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off Peter's hands! And the angel said to him "Dress yourself, and put on your sandals." And so Peter did. And the angel said to him "Wrap your garment around you, and follow me." And Peter went out and followed the angel, but he did not understand that this was really happening, he thought that he was seeing a vision.

When they were past the first and the second groups of cells, they came unto the iron gate that led to the city, which opened to them by itself! and they went out, and passed through one street, and then the angel left Peter.

And when Peter realized what had just happened, he said "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel, and has brought me out of the hand of Herod, and from going before all the Jewish people. And while he was thinking about what had happened, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose last name was Mark; where there were many people gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked on the door of the gate, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was.

And when she knew it was Peter, she was so happy that she did not open the gate, but ran into the house and told how Peter was standing outside the gate. And they said to her, "you are crazy". But she kept insisting that it was true, but they said that it was his angel.

But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they were amazed to see him. But Peter motioned to them with his hand for them to be quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he told them to tell James and the other brethren and then he went to another place.

Now as soon as it was daylight, the soldiers were racing about trying to discover what had happened to Peter. And when Herod looked for him, and did not find him, he examined the keepers of the prison and gave orders that they should be put to death.

And Peter went down from Judea to Caesarea, and lived there.

Memory Verse: Acts 12:11 "...Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me..........."

Questions:
1. Why did Herod put Peter in prison?
2. What was Peter doing when the angel appeared?
3. Can you think of three miracles that happened when the angel went to Peter?
4. What did Rhoda do when she saw Peter at the gate?
5. Why do you think the people in the house didn't believe her?
6. What is wonderful to remember from this story?

Answers:
1. Because he saw that the Jews were happy when James died, so he put Peter in prison too.
2. He was sleeping chained between two soldiers.
3. The chains fell off, the soldiers did not wake up, and the gate opened on its own.
4. She was so happy she forgot to open the gate and ran inside to tell everyone.
5. Because they thought that Peter was in prison.
6. God is more powerful than kings and soldiers, and he will provide help for his people..also that God answers prayer.

Vicki C. Gross/Jan'03