Acts 12:10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
On the last night before his planned execution, bound between soldiers in a prison secured against any human rescue, Peter is led by a mighty angel sent from heaven past the first and second guard to the iron gate leading to the city, which opens of itself without human hands, and after going through it and on through one street the angel's mission is done and he departs. The escape is silent and bright, with no creaking of hinges or sound of footsteps, while guards remain motionless at their post and bolts, bars and chains stay intact. Peter follows bewildered, thinking the deliverance is a dream or vision, and knows it is blessed reality only after the angel leaves him alone in the dark street with freed wrists in a familiar part of the city. The triumph over guard, doors and chains shows that human barriers cannot prevent God from delivering His servants from death and from their persecutors, and He sends His angel in answer to the prayers of believers so Peter can continue his work. It shows holy angels ministering to God's children in times of danger, revealing the close connection between heaven and earth, with care even for practical details like clothing Peter for the night air.
Prison Setting and Background
The night described belongs to Peter's imprisonment under Herod Agrippa, who was subject to Claudius and who to gain favor with the Jews persecuted the church, spoiling houses and goods and imprisoning its leading members. In that persecution he killed James the brother of John with the sword and then imprisoned Peter also.
The escape took place on the last night before Peter's planned execution, when he was condemned to die and expected to die the next day. He had fallen asleep bound between two soldiers, with his sandals and outer garments removed, to be led forth to death on the morrow. The prison had been made secure against any human rescue, with bars, chains, locked doors, and guards, so that guard, doors, and chains could not be overcome by human means.
Believers had made prayers in Peter's behalf, though they expected his death. They were astonished when they heard his voice at the gate after his release.
Course of Miraculous Escape
A mighty angel sent from heaven leads Peter past the first and the second ward, past two guards, to the iron gate that leads to the city. That iron gate opens by itself, without human aid and without human hands, by divine power. After passing through it they go on through one street, out into the open street, and once Peter is safely outside the angel's mission is accomplished. Then the angel suddenly departs and leaves him.
The angel passes in front, encircled by dazzling brightness, and Peter follows behind. The strong, heavily bolted gates open of their own accord, with no creaking of hinges and no rattling of iron bolts, and close noiselessly behind them. No word is spoken and there is no sound of footsteps, and in the same silent way they pass through three guarded gateways. The passage through the guarded wards to the iron gate and into the open street is completed in that silent brightness until the angel disappears.
The prisoner escapes while the security remains intact. The guards within and without remain motionless at their post while he passes out. The bolts and bars stay secured, and the chains remain on the soldiers, yet Peter is gone.
Peter's Bewilderment and Realization
Peter follows bewildered, dumb with amazement, believing himself to be dreaming or in a vision because of the dazzling brightness surrounding the angel. At first he thinks the whole deliverance is a vision brought on by the bright light that amazes him.
Yet the deliverance is real and actual, not a vision, a real divinely wrought escape from prison and from the death he expected the next day. He is led past the guards and through the iron gate that opens by itself, then safely along a street before the angel leaves him.
It becomes real to him only after the angel leaves, when the heavenly light fades and he is left alone in profound darkness in a silent street with the cool night air on his brow. As his eyes grow accustomed the darkness lessens and he recognizes a familiar part of the city he had often frequented and had expected to pass for the last time on his way to execution on the morrow. Then he knows his freedom is no dream or vision but blessed reality, that though he had fallen asleep bound between two soldiers with sandals and outer garments removed and was to have been led forth to die, an angel has delivered him from prison and from death. His wrists swollen from the cruel irons are now free from the manacles, and he is left fully dressed and girded.
In his astonishment he had forgotten his garments, until the angel tells him to gird himself and put on his sandals and ensures he is dressed and girded for the night air. This care for ordinary human needs shows that Heaven notices the circumstances and needs of God's people even in details.
Ministry of Holy Angels
The iron gate that opened by itself to let Peter out of Herod's prison shows holy angels sent on a mission of mercy to minister to God's children, as they have done in all ages. When Peter was doomed to death in Herod's dungeon, an angel opened the prison doors and set him free, leading him past the guards to the iron gate that opened of itself and then leaving him safely in the street after they had gone out through one street. That deliverance is an example of holy angels being sent to help and rescue God's people and to deliver His servants from prison in times of danger.
God employs angels to communicate with human beings and to be guides and powerful helpers of His chosen messengers. Peter's experience is instruction and direction given to men by immortal messengers, proving that God has messengers on earth whom angels teach and lead. His being led by an angel out of prison and to safety demonstrates the close connection between heaven and earth.
Angels though unseen by human vision guide, direct, protect, guard and watch over the children of men, coming in and going out of houses. In Peter's case, when he suffered in prison for the truth's sake, angels commissioned from heaven came right into the prison house and took their prey out of the hands of the enemy and opened the way out. This proves God is constantly working in behalf of His people and is to be given credit for it, and fathers and mothers are to teach it to their children and households so they may know the power of the watching angels that guard them and place themselves under Christ's banner rather than the powers of darkness.
Christ manifested Himself to Peter by delivering him from prison by the hand of an angel. It fulfills His promise to love those who love Him and manifest Himself to them, just as He manifested Himself to John on Patmos and to Stephen. It proves He will manifest Himself to believers now if they are faithful, so that nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God's Power and Care
The escape past the wards to the iron gate that opened of itself was accomplished by divine power, with the guarded gates opening without human aid as the angel led Peter through them into the street and then departed once the rescue was complete. Bars, chains, locked doors, armed guards and prison barriers made the prison secure against any human rescue, yet they could not prevent God from delivering His servant, and His power triumphed over Herod's attempt to kill him. The very precautions meant to ensure execution made God's triumph and Herod's defeat complete, for the prisoner escaped while guards remained at their post, bolts and bars stayed secured, and chains remained on the soldiers.
God rescued Peter from the death Herod intended and from the persecutor's power, thwarting Herod's plan to put him to death and waking him and leading him out of prison. His protecting presence delivers His servants from dangers they cannot overcome themselves, even when condemned to die, bringing them past armed guards and through the great iron gate that opened as they reached it. He sent an angel to deliver Peter so that Peter could continue the work He had for him.
God's care reaches to practical, ordinary needs as well as rescue from danger, for Heaven notices the circumstances and needs of His people. The deliverance was real and not a vision, though Peter at first thought he was seeing one because of the bright light, and the angel ensured he was dressed and girded for the night air, telling the astonished apostle who had forgotten his garments to gird himself and put on his sandals. This shows His care for the true and faithful even in details, sending His messengers from heaven to open gates and set His servants free. He sent His mighty angel in answer to prayer, and at the angel's presence the prison doors flew open, Peter's bands were loosed, and he was awakened by the angel's touch. His opening of iron gates and freeing of His servants illustrates how readily He can unchain the words of life and release them from confinement.
Effect and Present Application
Peter's miraculous deliverance from prison and death, set against the judgment that fell on Herod, became widely known and led many to believe in Christ. The escape through guards and the self-opening iron gate to freedom outside left no doubt that God had rescued His servant from the death his persecutor intended.
The account stands as proof that God is constantly working in behalf of His people, and He is to be given the credit for it. Angels from heaven came right into the prison house and took their prey out of the hands of the enemy who had determined to destroy Peter suffering for the truth's sake, showing that angels guard and watch over the children of men, coming in and going out of houses though unseen by human vision. Fathers and mothers are to teach this deliverance to children and households, telling how the angel appeared to Peter and wrought for him, so they may know the power of the watching angels that guard them and may place themselves under Christ's banner rather than under the powers of darkness. Read slowly and solemnly to children and youth, the narrative makes a vivid and lasting impression that remains to this day and shapes character in far greater degree than older persons imagine, revealing the need to teach the young how to read and understand the Scriptures.
Peter had been imprisoned by Herod for preaching Christ yet was miraculously delivered, which means believers cannot submit to laws and powers when they oppose God. They must obey God rather than man and keep proclaiming the truth even when forbidden and thrust into prison. This stands as the pattern for the last days, when iniquity prevails and the message goes forth with a loud cry, for those who take their stand to stem the current will meet opposition, reproach, persecution, and strait places just as Peter did.