Peter's Prison Escape

King Herod had already killed the apostle James. When he saw that it pleased the people, he arrested Peter too. He put him in prison, chained between two soldiers, with guards at the door. The church prayed for him without stopping.

The night before his trial, Peter slept between the soldiers. Suddenly, a light shone in the cell. An angel of the Lord stood beside him. The angel struck Peter on the side. "Get up quickly." The chains fell from Peter's wrists.

"Put on your clothes and your sandals," the angel said. Peter did. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Peter followed. He did not know whether it was real or a vision.

They passed the first guard. They passed the second. They came to the iron gate that led into the city. The gate opened for them of its own accord. They walked down one street, and then the angel was gone.

Peter stood in the night air. "Now I know for certain," he said, "the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me." He went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were praying.

A servant girl named Rhoda came to the door. She heard Peter's voice. She was so overjoyed she forgot to open the door and ran back to tell the others. "You are out of your mind," they said. But Peter kept knocking. At last they opened, and they were amazed. The Lord had answered their prayer.