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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
On this last night before the execution, a mighty angel, commis-
sioned from Heaven, descended to rescue him. The strong gates which
shut in the saint of God, open without the aid of human hands; the
angel of the Most High enters, and they close again noiselessly behind
him. He enters the cell, hewn from the solid rock, and there lies Peter,
sleeping the blessed, peaceful sleep of innocence and perfect trust in
God, while chained to a powerful guard on either side of him. The
light which enveloped the angel illuminated the prison, but did not
waken the sleeping apostle. His was the sound repose that invigorates
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and renews, and that comes of a good conscience.
Peter is not awakened until he feels the stroke of the angel’s hand,
and hears his voice saying, “Arise up quickly.” He sees his cell, which
had never been blessed by a ray of sunshine, illuminated by the light
of Heaven, and an angel of great glory standing before him. He
mechanically obeys the voice of the angel; and in rising lifts his hands,
and finds that the chains have been broken from his wrists. Again the
voice of the angel is heard: “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.”
Again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riv-
eted upon his heavenly visitant, and believing himself to be dreaming,
or in a vision. The armed soldiers are passive as if chiseled from
marble, as the angel again commands, “Cast thy garment about thee,
and follow me.” Thereupon the heavenly being moves toward the door,
and the usually talkative Peter follows, dumb from amazement. They
step over the motionless guard, and reach the heavily bolted and barred
door, which swings open of its own accord, and closes again immedi-
ately; while the guard within and outside the door are motionless at
their posts.
The second gate, which is also guarded within and without, is
reached; it opens as did the first, with no creaking of hinges, or rattling
of iron bolts; they pass without, and it closes again as noiselessly. They
pass through the third gateway in the same manner, and at last find
themselves in the open street. No word is spoken; there is no sound of
footstep; the angel glides on before, encircled by a light of dazzling
brightness, and Peter follows his deliverer, bewildered, and believing
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himself to be in a dream. Street after street is threaded thus, and then,
the mission of the angel being completed, he suddenly disappears.
As the heavenly light faded away, Peter felt himself to be in pro-
found darkness; but gradually the darkness seemed to decrease, as