Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our Rescuer. He rescues us from sin through Christ’s sacrifice, and He rescues us throughout our lives from both physical dangers and spiritual struggles.
In Acts 12, Peter was in need of physical rescue. Herod had killed James (12:2), and the positive Jewish response prompted Herod to take Peter as his next victim (12:3). Peter was apprehended and put in prison under heavy guard (12:4). I assume “four quaternions of soldiers” refers to four groups of four soldiers, each of which had a six-hour shift, thus providing round-the-clock coverage. Two of the four soldiers were chained to Peter, while the other two watched the gate (12:6).
Peter was taken during the days of unleavened bread (12:3), a seven-day celebration that I believe ended at or around Easter. Apparently, the ongoing festival influenced Herod to delay additional action, “intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (12:4). “Peter therefore was kept in prison” (12:5) for what was apparently several days. Meanwhile, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (12:5).
Herod had a plan for Peter, intending to “bring him forth to the people” (12:5&6). At face value, this seems ambiguous. The context, however, strongly suggests that Peter was to be put to death. That is what happened to James, whose death directly led to Peter’s being imprisoned. It seems to be what the church expected as they unified in prayer. It seems to be what Peter expected, as his first thoughts after his divine release were that God had “delivered [him] out of the hand of Herod” (12:11). Based on what had happened to James, and the Jews’ pleasure in it, it seems that “the expectation of the people of the Jews” regarding Peter would have been the same outcome.
Herod’s plan had timing. He was waiting for the feast of unleavened bread to end and for Easter to pass. Herod’s plan was about to take effect. “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night” (12:6). The passage does not reveal that anyone other than Herod (and God) were aware of the specific timing. Surely the Jews were anticipating action; at the very least, it would be quite logical for them to speculate that the timing would come after the feast. Peter himself and the praying Christians may have anticipated the same timing. Maybe Herod had made an announcement. The important thing is that God knew.
What is clear is that God’s rescue came just in time. At the last minute, so to speak. Doom and destruction, probably death, were coming in the morning. Sometime during the night, God sent an angel to release Peter. In the morning, Herod was left surprised and scrambling, sending out search parties for the escaped fugitive.
In his imprisonment, Peter probably did not know how long he would be in prison, nor did he know for certain what would happen when he was taken out. Release accompanied by more threats? A beating? Renewed imprisonment after being made a spectacle? Death?
Peter had already come to the point of “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (5:41). Undoubtedly, he shared the mindset of Paul: “So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. … having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:20-23).
Whether or not Peter was aware of the intended outcome or of the specific timing, he had a measure of peace, as he slept between the soldiers. That did not mean the situation was easy or pleasant. Peter had to spend several days in jail. Constantly chained, constantly guarded. The conditions could not have been good, and the threat constantly loomed. But God delivered just in the nick of time.
This wasn’t the first time God had delivered Peter at the last minute. In Mark 4, Jesus was with His disciples in a ship. There was a great storm with strong wind and crashing waves. The disciples thought they were going to perish. When they finally woke Jesus at the last minute before they were sure they would sink, Jesus calmed the storm.
Or how about the double deliverance? Another storm, and Jesus was not with the disciples (Matthew 14). Again, they were tossed by the storm, but Jesus arrived just in time. Then Peter wanted to walk on the water. He started okay, but then in fear, he began to sink. Jesus snatched Peter just as he was disappearing into the tempestuous sea.
I think Peter had a level of trust during his imprisonment. He may not have known what God would do, but he knew what God could do. He knew that rescue was possible, even at the last minute.
God is never late. God always has options. He could have delivered Peter sooner. We don’t know why God waited until the last minute, but reality is that the last minute is good enough. Sometimes we do need to be “in jail” for a season. Sometimes a threat needs to hang over our heads for a while. A last-minute deliverance has a level of wonder to it, as it requires the maximum amount of trust and showcases God’s deliverance in a wonderful way.
Actually, we may not know the enemy’s intended day of destruction, but God knows all the plans and all the deadlines. Sooner or later, God will deliver. Based on His purposes, God might deliver us quickly, or He might leave us struggling and suffering, uncertain of the outcome, maybe even facing “inescapable” doom. But until the impending destruction arrives, no matter how difficult the situation, God still has opportunity to deliver, even at the last minute. May He grant us the ability to wait peacefully, confidently, submissively.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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