Out of the Prison

Photo by Jimmy Chan

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” (Acts 12:6-11 NLT)

This is one of my favorite events recorded in the Biblical texts. It is an event that, I believe, truly exemplifies the process of belief for believers and non-believers alike. Peter sleeps in a prison cell with only hostile guards for company. But because our God answers prayer, he sends his angel to Peter and casts off the chains that bind him between two soldiers and guide him out. Peter thought this was a vision and that it wasn’t happening in real time until he gets outside and comes to his senses.

How often do we find ourselves today captive to sin? If you’re currently a believer in Jesus’ Lordship and have asked him to forgive you of your sins, you may have strongholds (or prisons) in your life that you aren’t giving to Jesus or allowing him access to. If you’re not a believer you need to understand that there is sin in your life that you either committed yourself or you have inherited by birth in a fallen world and Jesus is seeking you out and wants a relationship with you.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus has removed the chains, they’ve fallen to the prison floor and he instructs us to get up and walk away from them. And here’s the best part. The angel led Peter directly through the front doors. They didn’t take an alternate route, a window, or sewer system as seen in movies. He led him through the most direct and true path out of the prison.

We all know or have heard that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life but do we acknowledge him with that authority? Do we speak to him and say, “I trust you with it all. All my pain, struggle, and addiction. All of my praise, adoration, and joy is yours!”?

Lastly, it wasn’t until Peter “came to his senses” that he realized his vision wasn’t a dream but reality. Jesus’ Gospel sounds too good to be true at times. While we were yet sinners Christ died to set us free. We are made into new creations, built to glorify God in the way we live. We have been adopted (meaning we are chosen and wanted!) into the family of God and made CO-HEIRS with Christ! This is the Good News!

When will you come to your senses and see what Jesus has already done for you, and is continuing to do for you?