Acts 12:6-11. The very night Herod intends to bring Peter out of prison to face the Jews, as Peter is sleeping, bound in chains between two guards, an angel comes to him in prison. The angel strikes Peter on his side and wakes him, telling him to get up quickly, get dressed, and follow him. The chains fall from Peter's hands, and he does everything the angel commands, but he thinks he is having a vision. When Peter and the angel come to the iron gate of the city, it opens of its own accord, and they pass through. The angel then leaves Peter, and he realizes he is not having a vision, but has been rescued from Herod and "all that the Jewish people were expecting."

This is the second time since Pentecost an angel has busted one or more of the apostles out of jail! The church is still forming, this is no time for the Pope to be in prison, so God takes care of it as only He can. I wonder what it feels like to be "struck" by an angel? I am an imagining it as a burst of energy passing through Peter's body and waking him instantly. Maybe that was what burst the chains?

I can understand Peter thinking that he is having a vision. He had been sleeping, so this probably felt like a vivid dream. He was probably waiting for the angel to give him further information once they got out of the city, kind of like Ezekiel's angel who took him all around, telling him things. But as soon as they leave the city, the angel leaves him, and that is when Peter realizes the angel wasn't there to give him further wisdom or instruction, but just to free him. It must have been somewhat heartening for Peter to realize that he now knows enough, and God trusts his judgment enough, for Peter to get the job done! Peter doesn't need any more heavenly instruction right now, just his freedom and the willingness to act. Right now, we still have our freedom and the ability to act. Let's do what we can to rebuild Christ's church before we lose either!