Awakened by an Angel
The mother of James and John had requested that her sons sit on the right and left of Jesus in the kingdom. They assured Jesus that they were able to drink the cup and be baptized with the baptism (of suffering) that Jesus was going to endure (Mt. 20:20-23). Little did James know that he would be the first apostle to be martyred for his faith (Acts 12:1-3). Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, had him beheaded and then arrested Peter intending to kill him after the Passover celebration.
Peter had been arrested twice before (Acts 4:1-3; 5:17-19), but this one was different. Peter knew that Herod had beheaded James and that the Jewish nation was delighted in the murder. How could he sleep the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial?
It may be that Peter remembered the promise that Jesus had made to him—”when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will carry you where you do not wish” (Jn. 21:18), so he did not consider himself old and trusted God. Another thing that no doubt contributed to his contentment was the prayers of the church (v. 12). He was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike him on the side to awaken him (v. 7).
If his brethren were praying for him, how do you account for the fact they did not believe it was Peter who was calling for the gate to be opened? It may have been a natural reaction that it was too good to be true. Another possibility is that they were not praying for his deliverance, but remembering what he had done when warming himself around the enemies’ campfire, they were praying that his faith would stand. In other words, that he would “be faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10). May we learn to pray, trust God, leave the results in God’s hands and rest with a good conscience.
Peter had been arrested twice before (Acts 4:1-3; 5:17-19), but this one was different. Peter knew that Herod had beheaded James and that the Jewish nation was delighted in the murder. How could he sleep the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial?
It may be that Peter remembered the promise that Jesus had made to him—”when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will carry you where you do not wish” (Jn. 21:18), so he did not consider himself old and trusted God. Another thing that no doubt contributed to his contentment was the prayers of the church (v. 12). He was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike him on the side to awaken him (v. 7).
If his brethren were praying for him, how do you account for the fact they did not believe it was Peter who was calling for the gate to be opened? It may have been a natural reaction that it was too good to be true. Another possibility is that they were not praying for his deliverance, but remembering what he had done when warming himself around the enemies’ campfire, they were praying that his faith would stand. In other words, that he would “be faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10). May we learn to pray, trust God, leave the results in God’s hands and rest with a good conscience.