Delivered From Prison II
1. september, 2010Source: “Acts of the Apostles” by Ellen G. White p. 145-147
This blog today is based on Acts 12: 5-10
Double Precautions
Visual imagination 1 Remembering the former escape of the apostles from prison, Herod on this occasion had taken double precautions.
Biblical evidence
In imagination behold the scene
{AA 145.4} Remembering the former escape of the apostles from prison, Herod on this occasion had taken double precautions.
- To prevent all possibility of release, Peter had been put under the charge of sixteen soldiers, who, in different watches, guarded him day and night.
- In his cell he was placed between two soldiers and was bound by two chains, each chain being fastened to the wrist of one of the soldiers. He was unable to move without their knowledge.
With the prison doors securely fastened, and a strong guard before them, all chance of rescue or escape through human means was cut off. But man’s extremity is God’s opportunity (Editor note: John Flavel (1627–1691) was an English Presbyterian clergyman. A well known quote by J.Flavel is “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”. For more quotes by J.Flavel see this link).

John Flavel (1627-1691)
Man’s Extremity
{AA 146.1} Peter was confined in a rock-hewn cell, the doors of which were strongly bolted and barred; and the soldiers on guard were made answerable for the safekeeping of the prisoner.
God’s Opportunity
But the bolts and bars and the Roman guard, which effectually cut off all possibility of human aid, were but to make more complete the triumph of God in the deliverance of Peter.
- Herod was lifting his hand against Omnipotence
- Herod was to be utterly defeated.
By the putting forth of His might, God was about to save the precious life that the Jews were plotting to destroy.
The Last Night
Visual imagination 2 It is the last night before the proposed execution.
Biblical evidence
In imagination behold the scene
{AA 146.2} It is the last night before the proposed execution. A mighty angel is sent from heaven to rescue Peter.
- The strong gates that shut in the saint of God open without the aid of human hands.
- The angel of the Most High passes through, and the gates close noiselessly behind him.
- He enters the cell, and there lies Peter, sleeping the peaceful sleep of perfect trust.
The chains have fallen from his wrists
{AA 146.3} The light that surrounds the angel fills the cell, but does not rouse the apostle. Not until he feels the touch of the angel’s hand and hears a voice saying,
- “Arise up quickly,”
does he awaken sufficiently to see…
- to see his cell illuminated by the light of heaven.
- to see an angel of great glory standing before him.
Mechanically he obeys the word spoken to him, and as in rising he lifts his hands he is dimly conscious that the chains have fallen from his wrists.
The First Door
{AA 147.1} Again the voice of the heavenly messenger bids him,
- “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals,”
and again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riveted upon his visitor and believing himself to be dreaming or in a vision. Once more the angel commands,
- “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”
He (the heavenly messenger) moves toward the door, followed by the usually talkative Peter, now dumb from amazement. They step over the guard and reach the heavily bolted door, which of its own accord swings open and closes again immediately, while the guards within and without are motionless at their post.
The Second Door
{AA 147.2} The second door, also guarded within and without, is reached.
- It opens as did the first, with no creaking of hinges or rattling of iron bolts.
They (Ed. the angel and Peter) pass through, and the second door closes again as noiselessly. In the same way they pass through the third gateway and find themselves in the open street…
- No word is spoken; there is no sound of footsteps.
- The angel glides on in front, encircled by a light of dazzling brightness,
- Peter, bewildered, and still believing himself to be in a dream, follows his deliverer.
Thus they pass on through one street, and then, the mission of the angel being accomplished, he suddenly disappears.
Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse
Herodes tog dobbelte forholdsregler
I erindring om apostlens tidligere udfrielse fra fængslet havde Herodes ved denne lejlighed taget dobbelte forholdsregler. For at forhindre enhver mulighed for befrielse var Peter sat under bevogtning af seksten soldater, der i forskellige vagthold bevogtede ham både dag og nat. I cellen var han anbragt mellem to soldater og var bundet med to lænker, og hver lænke var fastgjort til en af soldaternes håndled. Han kunne ikke røre sig, uden at de mærkede det. Med de sikkert låsede fængselsdøre og en stærk vagt udenfor dem var enhver mulighed for redning eller flugt ved menneskers hjælp udelukket. Men når nøden er størst, er Gud nærmest!
Når nøden er størst er Gud nærmest
Peter var indespærret i en celle, der var hugget ind i klippen, og hvis døre var forsvarligt stængede med lås og slå; og de vagthavende soldater var gjort ansvarlige for fangens sikkerhed. Men bolt og slå og det romerske vagthold, som fuldstændig udelukkede al mulighed for menneskelig hjælp, skulle kun gøre Guds sejr ved Peters befrielse endnu mere fuldkommen! Herodes havde løftet hånden mod den Almægtige, og han skulle komme til at lide et afgørende nederlag. Gud ville ved at bruge sin magt frelse det dyrebare liv, som jøderne havde besluttet at tilintetgøre.
Den sidste nat før henrettelse
Det er den sidste nat før den berammede henrettelse. En Herrens engel bliver fra Himmelen udsendt for at frelse Peter. De stærke porte, som var lukkede for Guds hellige, åbner sig uden menneskehænders hjælp. Den Allerhøjestes engel går igennem dem, og portene lukker sig lydløst bagved ham. Han går ind i cellen, og der ligger Peter fredeligt sovende i fuldkonnen tillid.
Lyset fra englen fylder fangerummet
Fangerummet fyldes af det lys, der omgiver engelen, men det vækker ikke apostlen. Først da han mærker berøringen af engelens hånd og hører en stemme sige: “Stå hurtigt op!” bliver han tilstrækkelig vågen til at se fængslet oplyst af Himmelens lys og en strålende engel stående foran ham. Uvilkårligt adlyder han de ord, der blev talt til ham, og da han løfter hænderne, går det svagt op for ham, at lænkerne er faldet af hans håndled.
Det himmelske sendebuds røst…
Atter lyder det himmelske sendebuds røst: “Bind op om dig og tag dine sandaler på!” og atter adlyder Peter mekanisk, med sit undrende blik fast rettet mod sin gæst og i den tro, at han drømmer eller ser et syn. Endnu engang befaler engelen: “Kast din kappe om dig og følg mig!” Engelen går henimod døren efterfulgt af den i almindelighed meget talende Peter, som nu er stum af forundring. De træder hen over vagten og når den svært låsede dør, som af sig selv går op og straks efter igen lukker sig, mens vagterne både indenog udenfor er ubevægelige på deres post.
Den anden dør
Nu når de til den anden dør, som også er bevogtet både indefra og udefra. Den åbner sig på samme måde som den første, uden knirkende hængsler eller raslende slåer. De går igennem den, og den lukker sig atter lydløst. På samme måde passerer de den tredie port og står nu ude på gaden. Der bliver ikke sagt et ord, og der høres ingen fodtrin. Engelen svæver i forvejen, omgivet af en blændende stråleglans, og Peter, som stadig er forvirret og tror, at han drømmer, følger med sin befrier. På denne måde går de hen ad en gade, og derpå forsvinder engelen pludseligt, fordi dens opgave er fuldført.



























Picture: Caesarea