Acts 12:1-11
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
This account of Herod arresting Peter and placing him in jail, shows the power of prayer.
Note "constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."
Then an angel of Lord takes action.
Also, see that the soldiers and guards did not see anything.
And Peter had been bound in chains between two soldiers.
This shows why we should be in constant, earnest prayer to God for everyone we know.
Our families, our friends, our enemies, our congregation, our nation, everyone.
And don't expect the answer is always going to be visible to you.
We may not see the results of our prayers.
We do not always see God's actions.
Even Peter thought he was having a vision.
When Peter showed up at the house of Mary, where many were gathered praying, they did not initially believe it was him at the door of the gate.
Until they saw him.
Don't wait until you see God's answer to know that He is responding.
Sometimes we never see the answer.
But the Lord always gives the best answer according to His will and His time.
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