Delivered From Prison
99
angel glides on in front, encircled by a light of dazzling brightness,
and Peter, bewildered, and still believing himself to be in a dream,
follows his deliverer. Thus they pass on through one street, and then,
the mission of the angel being accomplished, he suddenly disappears.
The heavenly light faded away, and Peter felt himself to be in
profound darkness; but as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness,
[148]
it gradually seemed to lessen, and he found himself alone in the silent
street, with the cool night air blowing upon his brow. He now realized
that he was free, in a familiar part of the city; he recognized the place
as one that he had often frequented and had expected to pass on the
morrow for the last time.
He tried to recall the events of the past few moments. He remem-
bered falling asleep, bound between two soldiers, with his sandals and
outer garments removed. He examined his person and found himself
fully dressed and girded. His wrists, swollen from wearing the cruel
irons, were free from the manacles. He realized that his freedom
was no delusion, no dream or vision, 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 apostle made his way at once to the house where his brethren
were assembled and where they were at that moment engaged in earnest
prayer for him. “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, 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
[149]
door, and saw him, they were astonished. 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 Peter “departed, and went
into another place.” Joy and praise filled the hearts of the believers,
because God had heard and answered their prayers and had delivered
Peter from the hands of Herod.
In the morning a large concourse of people gathered to witness the
execution of the apostle. Herod sent officers to the prison for Peter,