5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Peter is now in jail and is to be tried the next day. Yet the apostle is sound asleep, having put his life in the hands of God.
12:5
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant [unremittant] prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
During Peter’s imprisonment, the Jerusalem church interceded for him through prayer. They may have confined him in the Tower of Antonia, where the Roman garrison’s barracks were located.
The word “constant” in “constant prayer” means stretched out. The church’s prayer was continuous and earnest. Their prayer was wholehearted and urgent. These people were serious and vigilant in their prayers. Other passages speak of fervent prayer (Lu 22:44; 1 Pe 1:22; 4:8).
12:6
And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
The night before Herod put Peter under trial, he shackled him with two chains between two soldiers. Peter was sound asleep, having put his trust in the Lord. In 1 Peter 3:12, Peter quotes Psalm 34:15-16 to reveal his faith in the Lord during persecution. God clearly knew what Agrappa did to James and tried to do with Peter. God did not reveal why it was His will that James die and Peter live.
12:7
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
An angel enters Peter’s cell and wakes him charging him to flee from the prison. Peter’s chains fell off without waking the guards. God heard the prayers of the Jerusalem church.
12:8
Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
The angel charged Peter to dress and follow him.
12:9
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Peter was under the impression that he saw a vision of what was happening to him rather than believing he was actually free. In verse 11, Peter realizes that he had not seen a vision but was experiencing reality.
12:10
When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Peter followed the angel past the first and second set of guards until the iron gates of the city opened to free him. The angel immediately departed from Peter after going outside the gates.
PRINCIPLE:
Evangelism is not bound by opposition.
APPLICATION:
There is irony in Herod’s attempt to stamp out Christianity and God’s sovereign intervention on behalf of His leaders. God directly answered the prayer of people in Mary’s house. He brings the church’s spiritual myopia up short by His answer to prayer. God even answers the prayer of those who do not have confidence in prayer. Every event turned upon God’s initiative. The grace of God delivered Peter.
