Today's Journal
TO FETCH AN ANGEL
In the book of The Acts of the Apostles we read:“About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.” (Acts 12:1-5)
During this terrible and violent time we read in verse 5 ‘the church was praying fervently to God for him’ (Peter). The text says, “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” (12:7-8)
Peter followed the angel and escaped the prison and returned “to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.” (v.12) This is a wonderful story of deliverance and the power of prayer.
Thomas Watson (1620-1686) minister and author wrote a most clever comment on this event:
“The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.”
“And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Jesus