Luke the physician wrote how Peter, “was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals. And so he did. And he said unto him, Cast your garment about you, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and he did not know that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leads 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”, and in chapter twelve and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter said, “Now I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel” where we read:
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
The verse begins, “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when Peter” which means “and at the time and moment Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and was a disciple of Jesus” “was come to himself” or “was aware and known by his own self”, “he said” which means “Peter uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “now I know of a surety” or “at this time I, Peter, and aware, understand, perceive and discern truly, certainly and in reality”, “that the Lord” which means “that the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “has sent his angel” or “dispatched and assigned His messenger or envoy”. Luke shared how “Peter” came to his senses and perceived that the “Lord Jesus” had assigned one of His “angels” to him.
The verse continues, “and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” Luke added the words, “and has delivered me” which means “and rescued and brought forth me, Peter” “out of the hand of Herod” or “from the physical hand of power belonging to Herod whose name means heroic and was the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles”, “and from all the expectation of the people” which means “and apart from each, every, the whole and everyone of the implications, inflictions and looking after belonging to the human beings both male and female” “of the Jews” or “belonging to the people of the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion”. Luke shared how “Peter” declared “God's” rescuing him from both “Herod” and the anticipation of the Jewish people who desired to afflict him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” thought he must have been dreaming or had a vision when he was delivered, but he realized “God” saved him from “Herod” and the desire of the “Jewish” people who wanted him abolished. God the Heavenly Father “saved him”, and because His purposes are eternal in nature, anyone who yields their life to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and employed in His Kingdom until He decides it's time for them to go to Heaven. God loves everyone, and His plan is for anyone who yields their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, “came to the house of Mary the mother of John”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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