God Delivers Peter

Sunday, November 1, 2015
Acts 12:1-11 KJV 

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth 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. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What things did King Herod purpose to do and succeed in doing? What motivated his actions? (v.1-4)
2) What did the other disciples do while the Apostle Peter was in prison? (v.5)
3) Who, and what, kept Peter bound? (v.6)
4) Who, or what, visited Peter during the night and what was done and said to the apostle? (v.7-10)
5) What did Peter think was happening to him and what did he think after he came to himself? (v.9c,11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever been miraculously delivered from an impossible situation? If so, briefly describe what happened.

LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord will allow us to go through difficulties to reveal Himself as our deliverer after He enables us to overcome the situation.