May 29, 2015: Acts 12:1-11

Acts 12:1-11

12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

Reflection: 

You probably have heard this story before.  Have you put yourself in Peter's place?  Have you ever thought about what he was feeling as he awaited his trial?  The sadness, the anxiety, the desperation he must have felt.  Think for a moment about a time that really left you feeling so weighted.  You are left feeling hopeless. But imagine that moment when the angel appears!  The chains literally are taken off. The weight has been lifted.  This is our relationship with God. When those moments in our life are where we feel hopeless; the truth is God is there to release our chains.  Remember to turn to God to know the joy and hope in life.

Reflection Questions:

Morning: When you have felt a heavy burden?

Afternoon: Who has been there for you in that tough time?

Evening: How have you been so relieved and felt joyous from God?