Sunday of Joseph (NTA)

Acts 12:6-19

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 

I always seem to get caught upon on verse 12.  St Peter is released from prison and walks out of the prison before he realizes what is really going on.  This can be so true sometimes.  It is not until God has called us and made us to be his own that we finally realize it.  It takes us all a little while to realize how God works within our lives.  How has God been working in your life recently?

St Peter was forced to go to prison.  He was forced to suffer punishment on account of speaking the truth to people who did not want to believe it.  This is not the first time St Peter was put in prison, but he never stayed there very long.  Sometimes it was just a night and he was released.  In this occasion it takes an Angel to come and release him.

Some might talk about us all being in prisons of our sinful nature.  We might need help to be released from this prison.  But I really think it is interesting to remember that all believer suffer for their confession of faith.  We all have to take up our Cross and follow Jesus no matter where he may lead us.  Whether prison or a far off land, God leads us and guides us along the way.  He will watch over us, and he will not allow us to suffer true shame.

God is there even when we do not realize it.  He is there with his Word proclaimed in our ears.  He is there with his love and compassion.  God stands ready to help pick us up when we fall or are thrown into prison.  The Holy Spirit is even there to place his words upon our lips to confess God before Kings and neighbors.