One night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was in a dark, cold prison. Heavy chains held his hands. The guards were watching carefully, but Peter was calm because he trusted God.
Suddenly, an angel appeared! His light was bright like the sun shining through a window. The angel touched Peter’s side and woke him up. “Get up quickly!” the angel said softly.
Peter’s chains fell off by themselves! He felt like a bird set free from a cage. “Put on your clothes and sandals,” the angel told him. Peter did just as the angel said, still feeling amazed.
The angel led Peter out of the prison. The heavy doors opened by themselves. The guards were still sleeping, and no one saw Peter leave. The night air was cool and fresh, like a gentle breeze on a summer evening.
Peter walked through the dark streets, wondering, “Is this real? Am I really free?” His heart was full of joy and surprise. He knew God had saved him, just like He promised.
When Peter reached the house where his friends were praying, he knocked on the door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. She was so happy to see Peter that she forgot to open the door! “It’s Peter!” she shouted. Everyone was amazed and so happy to hear Peter’s voice.
Peter told his friends how God sent an angel to rescue him. They all praised God with big smiles and thankful hearts. Peter learned that God always listens when we pray and can do amazing things to help us.
Even when things seem very hard, God is strong and loving. He can make a way where there seems to be no way. Peter’s story reminds us to trust God and pray with hope.
Questions to think about
- Who helped Peter get out of prison?
- How did Peter feel when the angel came?
- What happened to Peter’s chains?
- Why were Peter’s friends so happy?
- What can we learn about God from this story?
Message of the story
God hears our prayers and can rescue us from any trouble because He loves us very much.
Bible passage
Acts 12:1-19
Acts 12:1-19 (ICB)
About that time, King Herod began to hurt some of the believers in the church. He killed James, the brother of John, with a sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter too. It was during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Herod put Peter in prison. He gave him to be watched by four groups of soldiers. He wanted to bring Peter out to the people after the Passover.
While Peter was in prison, the church was praying very hard for him.
The night before Herod planned to bring Peter out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was tied up with two chains. Guards stood in front of the prison doors.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison. The angel woke Peter up, and the chains fell off his wrists.
The angel said, “Get up quickly!” Peter followed the angel out of the prison. He thought he was seeing a dream.
They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that leads to the city. The gate opened by itself. They went outside and walked down a street, and then the angel left.
Peter came to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered there and were praying.
Peter knocked at the door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. She ran back inside and told the others, “Peter is at the door!”
They said, “You are crazy!” But she kept saying
