DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL

On the last night before Peter was to be killed, a mighty angel was sent by God to rescue Peter. The strong gates to the prison where Peter was held opened without the help of human hands. The angel of the Most High entered and, the gates closed silently behind him. The angel went into the cell that was cut from solid rock. Peter was sleeping a peaceful sleep of perfect trust in God. Peter was chained between two powerful guards.SRme 1.1347

The light around the angel filled the cell but did not awaken Peter. Peter was sleeping peacefully. Peter knew that everything was right between himself and God.SRme 1.1348

Peter woke up when the angel touched him. Peter heard the angel saying, "Get up quickly!" Peter's cell never had a ray of sunshine before. Now Peter's cell was bright with the light of heaven. An angel of great glory was standing in front of Peter. Peter obeyed the angel's command to get up. Peter lifted his hands and found that the chains had fallen from his wrists.SRme 1.1349

Once more the angel spoke, "Put on your clothes and your sandals." Again Peter obeyed, keeping his wondering eyes upon his heavenly visitor. Peter thought he was dreaming or having a vision. Peter's armed guards were motionless as if made of stone. The angel spoke again, "Put your coat around you and follow me."SRme 1.1350

The angel moved toward the door. Usually Peter talked a lot. But now Peter was silent from amazement. The angel and Peter stepped over the sleeping guards and reached the heavily bolted and barred door. Immediately the door opened by itself and closed again. The guards inside and outside the door stood motionless at their assigned places.SRme 1.1351

Peter and the angel reached the second gate that was also guarded inside and outside. The door opened as silently as the first door. Not a sound came from the heavy gates. The gate closed with no noise.SRme 1.1352

Peter and the angel passed through the third gateway in the same manner. At last Peter and the angel were in the open street. Not a word was spoken. Not a footstep was heard. The angel moved smoothly on before Peter with a bright light around him. Peter followed his deliverer. Peter still believed it was a dream.SRme 1.1353

Peter and the angel walked down one street after another. Then, the work of the angel completed, the angel suddenly disappeared.SRme 1.1354

The heavenly light faded away and Peter felt he was in complete blackness. Peter's eyes became used to the dark and he saw that he was alone on the silent street. The cool night air blew on Peter's face. Peter realized for the first time that he was not having a dream or vision. Peter was free! Peter recognized where he was in the city, for he had often been there. This was the street Peter had expected to walk down the next day on the way to his death.SRme 1.1355

Peter thought about the events that had just happened. Peter remembered taking off his outer clothes and sandals. Then Peter had fallen asleep between two guards. Peter examined himself and found that he was fully dressed. Peter's wrists, though swollen from wearing the cruel irons, were free. Peter realized that his freedom was not a dream, not a vision. Peter's freedom was real! In the morning Peter was to have been led out to die, but an angel had delivered him from prison and death.SRme 1.1356

"Then Peter realized what had happened to him, and said, 'Now I know that it is really true! The Lord sent His angel to rescue me from Herod's power and from everything the Jewish people expected to happen" (Acts 12:11).SRme 1.1357