Today's Bible reading is the 12th chapter of the Book of Acts. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+12&version=NASB

In Acts Chapter 8 we learned that following Stephen's death, "great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem". Because of the persecution,  "they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." Although God divinely allowed persecution against His church and used its scattering to spread the gospel message, He also gave divine protection of His apostles. In today's passage we see that this divine protection would not be indefinite. The 12th chapter begins with the Apostle James being "put to death with a sword" at the direction of King Herod. Although Stephen had been the Church's first martyr, James would be the first apostle killed. He was the brother of the Apostle John. I can only imagine the grief his death must have caused for the many, especially John, Peter and his brother Andrew. The four of them had been companions before their divine calling to follow Jesus. Each set of brothers had fished the waters of Galilee and Luke's gospel suggests to us that they were "partners" in their fishing endeavors. There is no doubt that these men had spent many hours with one another before Jesus came into their life and they had come to be more than friends, fellow fisherman and partners; they had also become brothers in Christ and fellow apostles. 

Not being satisfied with the death of James and having seen that his death had pleased the Jews, Herod then has Peter arrested. From the context it is quite clear that the King's intentions were the same; to have Peter put to death by the sword. While Herod takes steps to assure that Peter is held securely in prison, the church is interceding for him by fervently praying to God. Although we are not given the details of their prayers on Peter's behalf, one can only imagine, that given what had happened to James, they most likely were asking God to spare his life and to keep him safe. Perhaps to watch over him while in prison and to keep him from Herod's intentions. As the account goes, God intended not only to keep Peter from Herod's intentions but miraculously intervene and see to his complete release from his imprisonment. We read that Peter was bound in prison by two chains. There was a soldier to his left and one to his right and guards in front of the prison doors. Although I am no expert in the matter, it appears as if these "soldiers" had been assigned special duty as they were not the ordinary prison guards. Anyway, using language of our day, it would take a "special ops" team to secure Peter's rescue. But there would be no "special forces group", "ranger battalion" or "seal team". God would use one of His angels to enter the prison, unbind Peter and lead him safely out of the prison. 

Upon his release from prison we find Peter appear to go directly to the house of Mary, where members of the church were gathered together and praying for him. Note that it appears that they have literally been praying through the night. This Mary, the prayer meeting hostess, is said to have been the mother of John, also called Mark, the young man who would later go with Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary journeys. Anyway, Peter seems to know where some would have been gathered together to pray. Perhaps he had also been at this same house of prayer previously, praying for his dear friend James. I only suggest that as a possibility. But from the first time Peter and John had been arrested and instructed to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, it had been the custom of the church to gather together and seek God's divine intervention. They left us with a great example. Of course, as the story goes, those who were at the house praying found it difficult at first to believe that Peter was at the house and were "amazed" when they beheld him. It seems to simply be an example of God doing exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. As I suggested before, I suppose they were praying for Peter's safety. Praying that God would keep him from being put to death as James had been. But I don't suppose that any of them were asking God to send one of His angels into the prison to secure is actual safe release from his prison bonds altogether.          

I know I have written much more than I am accustom to doing in my attempt to write briefly in hope of prompting others to much contemplation of our glorious God and Savior. But each time I read this account I am reminded of the "why" question that believers often pose. Why it is that God allows certain things to happen in the lives of His children. Perhaps the closest friend that Jesus has in His earthly life was the beloved Apostle John. It was John's brother that God had sovereignly allowed to be put to death with the sword by King Herrod. And what appears to be days later, God sovereignly intervenes and rescues Peter from what most assuredly was intended to be the same plight. We are never told if John asked God the "why" question. "Why rescue Peter and not my brother?" I'm not saying that John never asked the question but we are simply not told about it if he did. It is a good reminder to me that we simply don't know the answer to the "why question". But we do know that God is sovereign. There are things that He divinely causes to happen and there are things that He divinely allows to happen. We know that He is good and that He does all things well. We know that He is the giver of much grace, mercy and peace. We know that we can trust and rest in Him. It doesn't prevent bad things from happening in the lives of His people but it makes all the difference when they do.