Easter Prison


Acts 12:4

After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

I spent a good deal of the afternoon reading the first 12 chapters of Acts.

It essentially goes from the Passover when Jesus was crucified and raised to the next year's Passover when Peter was in jail. Quite an eventful year. Herod has just beheaded James to please the crowds and is now scheming for a two-fer. Take out Peter. If deliverance is what is being celebrated for Passover, it is looking like Easter in jail for Peter then to trial. And death. No slap on the wrist ahead.

Peter has seen incredible events and miracles in the last 365 days so he is sleeping like a baby while in jail. He is now resolved to not fear what man can do to him. How much a difference a year can make when he cowered before a servant girl. Then an angel hits him on the side in jail and tells him to gather his stuff and go. Locks open, bars blow wide as if made of feathers and not iron. The guards are as dead men....soon Herod gets chomped by worms because he took glory to himself rather than giving it to God. Digest that.

There is this incredible seemingly tragedy, to triumph, to tragedy, to triumph, spirit in all of Acts. It is enought to cause whiplash.

So, what does all of this say to us? Here is what I am thinking. God is quite well-acquainted with what we are dealing with. He may deliver us out of our trials or deliver us in our trials. Knowing that He knows and has the power to act is enough for me. James dies, Peter lives. Both scenarios expressed God's will and purpose. God may not take away your trial. Instead He has appointed you to show a hope beyond the travesty of time and trial.

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