As the early church was growing in the first century, Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, harassed many of the early church leaders.  He killed James the brother of John.  He arrested Peter just because he knew it would please the Jews.

After Peter was arrested, Herod the king put him in prison and had him guarded by sixteen soldiers.  Not only did he have him guarded by sixteen soldiers, but he had him bound with two chains between two soldiers and had him placed behind a locked door with guards guarding the door.

None of this was done secretly.  The rest of the Christians in Jerusalem knew what had happened.  This was during the time of the Passover and there is no doubt that word traveled quickly that Peter was in prison.  The Bible tells us in Acts chapter 12 that the church was in constant prayer for Peter.  They were gathering together in rooms and praying that Peter would get out of prison.  I can only imagine how it was in those prayer meetings, but I would suspect from biblical evidence that they were lamenting in prayer for days, praying, “Dear God in heaven.  Release our dear brother, Peter, from the merciless hand of Herod the king.”  The Bible says they prayed for Peter constantly.

Then something unexpected occurred.  The day before Herod was going to display his captive Christian to the Jews, an angel of the Lord appeared beside Peter. He was sleeping, still in chains between two guards. Light began to shine in the prison and the angel struck Peter on the side and raised him up.  Then the angel said, “Arise quickly!” and chains fell off Peter’s hands.  Then Peter was told to get his clothes and sandals together and get dressed.  The angel instructed Peter to follow him. The angel and Peter walked past the first and second guard posts to the iron gate.  The gate opened by itself and they went through the gate and down the street.

This was so astonishing and unbelievable that the Bible says in Acts 12:9 Peter didn’t really think it was happening.  He thought it was a vision.  But it wasn’t just a vision.  It was real.

When Peter came to his senses and realized that it was really happening, he decided to go to Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark. 

Mary’s house was full of Christians, all praying for Peter’s release.  Peter knocked on the door.  A girl named Rhoda went to the door but didn’t open it.  She recognized Peter’s voice and in her excitement forgot to open the door and let him in.  Instead, she ran in where they were praying and announced that Peter was at the door.  They thought she had lost her mind.  How could Peter be at the door anyway?  After all, he had to be in prison.  That’s why they were praying.  Well, Peter kept knocking and when the door was finally opened, those in the room were astonished.

Nineteen hundred years later, things haven’t changed much.  We pray and when our prayers are answered we are astonished.