On the final night

“On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.” (1) This event took place on the eighth day of the festival, the final night. Peter was chained between two soldiers, sleeping, while two guards kept watch outside the cell. (2) Despite knowing about James’ martyrdom, how could Peter sleep so peacefully? The Lord Jesus had foretold that Peter would face suffering in his old age (John 21:18-19). Remembering this, Peter likely believed that his time to die had not yet come (he would live 20 more years). “And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, ‘Put on your belt and strap on your sandals.’ And he did so…” (1) The angel appeared in the prison with the Shekinah Glory. At that time, both the guards and Peter were asleep. The fact that Peter could sleep soundly in prison shows remarkable faith. (2) The angel struck Peter’s side to wake him up and gave him brief, direct instructions one after another. We can almost picture Peter in a dreamlike state, slowly coming to realize what’s happening. “Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself…” (1) Peter felt as if he were dreaming. What was happening seemed impossible in reality. (2) As they passed the first and second guard posts and reached the iron gate, it supernaturally opened on its own. After that, they proceeded down a street, and then the angel suddenly disappeared. “When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’” (1) At that moment, Peter came to his senses and realized that the angel had been sent by the Lord. (2) “All that the Jewish people were expecting” refers to Peter’s impending execution. Let’s meditate on resting peacefully in the prison cell. The Lord Jesus will never leave us. Let us also receive the peace that is found in Christ.