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Peter Delivered From Prison
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is threaded thus, and then, the mission of the angel being completed,
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he suddenly disappears.
As the heavenly light faded away, Peter felt himself to be in
profound darkness; but gradually the darkness seemed to decrease,
as he became accustomed to it, and he found himself alone in the
silent street, with the cool night air upon his brow. He now realized
that it was no dream or vision that had visited him. He was free, in a
familiar part of the city; he recognized the place as one which he had
often frequented, and had expected to pass for the last time on the
morrow, when on the way to the scene of his prospective death. He
tried to recall the events of the last few moments. He remembered
falling asleep, bound between the two soldiers, with his sandals and
outer garment removed. He examined his person and found himself
fully dressed, and girded.
His wrists, swollen from wearing the cruel irons, were now free
from the manacles, and he realized that his freedom was no delusion,
but a blessed reality. On the morrow he was to have been led forth to
die; but lo, an angel had delivered him from prison and from death.
“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a
surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out
of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of
the Jews.”
The Answer to Prayer
The apostle made his way direct to the house where his brethren
were assembled together for prayer; he found them engaged in
earnest prayer for him at that moment. “And as Peter knocked at
the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And
when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness,
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but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said
unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even
so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking:
and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were as-
tonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their
peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the
prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the
brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”