Acts 12.1-19 contains a thrilling story of an angel helping Peter escape from prison.  James the brother of John had been killed already, and Herod intended to kill Peter also, because “it pleased the Jews.”  Herod must have had some fear of an escape – there were four squads of soldiers, two chains, and sentries guarding the doors of the prison.

An angel shows up late at night, and “a light shone in the cell.” Peter was kind of groggy because the angel had to tell him everything after whapping him on the side to wake him up. “Get up.” “Get dressed.” “Put on your sandals.” “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”  This sounds like the instructions that parents give to their child when they are about to leave someone else’s house.

The chains fell off, the guards didn’t notice them passing by, and the iron gate leading to the city “opened of its own accord.”  And ‘poof’ the angel is gone, just as Peter wakes up.  Miracle upon miracle.

Peter goes to his friends’ house and knocks on the door; they had all been praying for his safety.  Like in a television sitcom or a Marx Brothers film, Rhoda recognizes Peter, goes to tell the group, and leaves Peter knocking at the door!  Eventually they let him in and he tells the marvelous story.

Peter departs to another place, the group rejoices, and the next morning Herod has all the sentries killed.