angels | a small drop of ink

I met with some friends this week to study Acts 12.

At the beginning of the chapter—

James had just been put to death with the sword
Peter was in prison and was presumably next
King Herod had all the power

By the end of the same chapter—

King Herod was dead
Peter was free
The Word of God increased and spread with power

In between there were a few miracles, some angelic activity, and lots of prayer. “Well, well, well, how the turntables.”*

My Bible study friends all agreed that it was remarkable for Peter to be sleeping soundly on the night before his execution. So soundly, in fact, that he dozed right through the sudden and dramatic entrance of an angel into his jail cell. A bright light flooded the space and the heavenly being burst in (Ta Da!!), but Peter snoozed on.

Angels typically induce a measure of terror when they come onto an earthly scene. Their first words to humans are usually “Fear not!” Angels are other-worldly beings, mighty warriors, awesome sights to behold.

In Peter’s prison cell, however, the angel didn’t say “Fear not!” Instead the heavenly being had to shake Peter awake and say “Get up!” Peter had to be told to get dressed and put on his shoes. As they were leaving, the angel reminded him to put on his coat.

Chains fell off with a clatter. Peter stumbled around the cell gathering his things. A celestial spotlight poured down, yet not one of the sixteen prison guards roused.

Some of us are in our own Acts 12 stories. We are in the beginning, where it looks bleak and hope is hard to muster. The good seems to be losing and the bad seems to have a powerful grip. What are we to do?

We do what they did in the middle of Acts 12. Peter rested while his friends prayed earnestly, gathering together for all-night prayer meetings. With their mustard-seed-size faith, they asked for angel intervention and a miraculous move of God.

By the end of our Acts 12 stories, we will be able to look back and see what God has done. Chains will be broken. Prison doors will be flung open. Justice will be served. Good will triumph and evil will be vanquished.

The tables will turn.