Peter is Freed from Prison

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 15: “Peter is Freed from Prison
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 12:6-19

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr7Udj8lEUU (Teaching Kids about Jesus – Peter in Prison)

“Peter finally came to his senses. ‘It’s really true!’ he said. ‘The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!’” (Acts 12:11, NLT)

As the church grew larger, so did the numbers of people of didn’t want to see it grow any bigger. King Herod tried to discourage people from becoming Jesus’ followers by persecuting some of the early believers—he even had the Apostle James killed! When he saw that this made the Jewish leaders happy, he also had Peter imprisoned with the plan to bring him to trial…and probably killed too.

While in prison, Peter had 16 guards, to make certain he didn’t escape. But one night, he woke up and standing in front of him was an angel who told him to get up, get dressed and to follow him out of the prison. Peter thought he was just dreaming, but as he did what he was told, the chains he had on fell off, the doors to the prison opened by themselves, and then when he had followed the angel outside, the angel disappeared!

Peter went to the home of some friends who had been praying for him. When he knocked on the door, the servant girl Rhoda heard Peter’s voice and was so excited she went back to tell the group Peter was at the door. But they didn’t believe her! Finally, she convinced them to come and see, and there was Peter. He told them what had happened, asked them to spread the word and then he left.

Think about it...
• King Herod didn’t want people to become followers of Jesus. How did he try to stop the church from growing?
• The Pharisees were happy that Herod had James killed. What did Herod do then?
• Peter was arrested and sixteen men were given the job of making certain he didn’t escape. What did God do?
• After he was free, Peter went to tell his friends. Why didn’t they believe he was at the door?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for keeping Peter safe. I know that nothing can stop the work that you want us to do; not even kings and prisons. Help me to be brave like Peter to always follow your directions.