Peter is rescued from the powers of destruction
Acts 12:1-10
12 About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3 After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.
6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ 9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.
The martyrdom of James is tragic. King Herod is on a roll exercising his power against the church. To win even more favour with the political powers of the day, he had Peter arrested and thrown into prison. Peter is treated as a significant flight risk with guards specifically watching him. Everyone knows what is coming next. Herod’s political power and control of the police and the prisons makes it appear that he cannot be stopped and in having Peter arrested he is able to take out the leaders of the church at will. Herod has the power.
And then vs. 5 – the church prays. The church knows it can do nothing to get Peter out prison. So the church prays.
Vs. 6-10 feel very different than vs. 1-4. Herod’s power is shown to be useless against God and the angels who do God’s bidding. The action of the angel is so unreal that Peter thinks it is a dream. But he finally realizes it is not a dream, he really is being set free from prison. The power of God intervened and overthrew the powers of Herod. Overthrew them not with violence but by causing the guards to sleep. Only Peter is wakened to see and experience what is taking place.
A question, why was Peter saved and James was not? The answer I am going to give will not satisfy, but I think it is the only answer that works. The answer: in the mystery of God Peter was saved and James was not. The miracle of Peter’s rescue is a foretaste of the rescue that is offered to all when Jesus returns again in great glory and awesome majesty. In this life sometimes that glory and power breaks through, and when it does, we rejoice. For those moments remind us of the glory that will be revealed some day.
PRAYER:
O Lord, the forces of destruction and despair seem so great at times that we wonder if there is any hope. Teach us to hold on to hope regardless of how strong the forces of destruction appear, trusting that the day is coming when your glory will be revealed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.