Sermon notes to come.

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

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. 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. 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.” 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. 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. 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.”

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.—Acts 12:1–12

Sermon Discussion Questions

Outline

1. Pleasures of Persecution
2. Prison-Break of Peter
3. Power of Prayer 

Application: Pressing in to Prayer 

Questions

• Why is God’s providence a resting place for the Christian?
• How does the gospel free us to live in the moment and hope in the future in light of God’s providence?
• How do we read this passage? With sadness over a martyr? Or with gladness over a miracle? In light of this, how should we think about God?
• What should we expect to be the general disposition of the world toward believers?
• How does the miracle we see in this passage fuel our prayer life?
• Do we believe in the power of prayer? Why did the early church pray so quickly and so often?
• Does God’s providence discourage our prayer or encourage it? Why would it encourage our prayer?
• How can we live in the tension of high expectation in prayer and high understanding of the providence of God?
• This week, what is one step you can take to rest in God’s providence?
• This week, what is one step you can take to press in to prayer more for miracles of grace?