When the angel came to release Peter from jail he was sleeping soundly. Acts 12: 6 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. 7 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.[1]
Peter was in prison, chained to two guards, and two more sentries guarded the door. Herod had plans for Peter. Acts 12:4bHerod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.[2] “Given Herod’s summary execution of James, this could just as well mean “bring out for public execution” as “bring out for public trial.”[3] How could Peter sleep so soundly the night before his probable execution?
Sleeping in Confidence and Peace
We know Peter is sleeping soundly because the angel had to hit his side to wake him up. Then Peter was so groggy that the angel had to continue to give him directions. The angel sounded like a parent helping a toddler. Get dressed, put on your sandals, now put on your coat, and follow me.
Peter knows the church is praying for him. But he also has a promise from Jesus. John 21: 18 “I (Jesus) tell you (Peter) the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” [4]
Trust to Follow
Peter trusts Jesus so much that he can sleep even when Herod threatens his life. If this is when others take him where he doesn’t want to go, so be it. It will glorify God. If he must get older before this happens, all the better. There will be more time to glorify God. What a model for us! This life and its struggles are only temporary. God designed us to bring Him glory here and in eternal life. Paul comments on this same thing.
2 Corinthians 5: 6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.[5]
To learn more about sleeping soundly, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/an-angel-rescues-peter
[1,,2,4,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 12:6–7). Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Trites, A. A., William J. Larkin. (2006). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 12: The Gospel of Luke and Acts (p. 488). Tyndale House Publishers.