Again the voice of the heavenly messenger bids him, "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals," and again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riveted upon his visitor and believing himself to be dreaming or in a vision.Once more the angel commands, "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." He moves toward the door, followed by the usually talkative Peter, now dumb from amazement.They step over the guard and reach the heavily bolted door, which of its own accord swings open and closes again immediately, while the guards within and without are motionless at their post.
The second door, 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 through, and it closes again as noiselessly.In the same way they pass through the third gateway and find themselves in the open street.No word is spoken; there is no sound of footsteps.The 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, 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 remembered 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 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, who was to be brought with a great display of arms and guards in order not only to ensure against his escape, but to intimidate all sympathizers and to show the power of the king.
When the keepers before the door found that Peter had escaped, they were seized with terror.It had been expressly stated that their lives would be required for the life of their charge, and because of this they had been especially vigilant.When the officers came for Peter, the soldiers were still at the door of the prison, the bolts and bars were still fast, the chains were still secured to the wrists of the two soldiers; but the prisoner was gone.
When the report of Peter's escape was brought to Herod, he was exasperated and enraged.Charging the prison guard with unfaithfulness, he ordered them to be put to death.Herod knew that no human power had rescued Peter, but he was determined not to acknowledge that a divine power had frustrated his design, and he set himself in bold defiance against God.
Not long after Peter's deliverance from prison, Herod went to Caesarea.While there he made a great festival designed to excite the admiration and gain the applause of the people.This festival was attended by pleasure lovers from all quarters, and there was much feasting and wine drinking.With great pomp and ceremony Herod appeared before the people and addressed them in an eloquent oration.Clad in a robe sparkling with silver and gold, which caught the rays of the sun in its glittering folds and dazzled the eyes of the beholders, he was a gorgeous figure.The majesty of his appearance and the force of his well-chosen language swayed the assembly with a mighty power.Their senses already perverted by feasting and wine drinking, they were dazzled by Herod's decorations and charmed by his deportment and oratory; and wild with enthusiasm they showered adulation upon him, declaring that no mortal could present such an appearance or command such startling eloquence.They further declared that while they had ever respected him as a ruler, henceforth they should worship him as a god.
