Acts 12:1-19
Main Truth: The Lord Jesus is more powerful than His enemies.
Peter trusted Jesus when things were very hard.
Peter was a special friend of the Lord Jesus. Peter was a disciple.
Peter told everyone that trusting in the Lord Jesus as Savior was the only way to be part of God’s family. Peter told everyone about Jesus, but some people did not want to believe in the Lord Jesus. They were enemies of Jesus. The enemies of Jesus had Peter arrested. Peter had chains put on his hands and feet. The prison was a dark place. Peter could not leave the prison.Even though Peter had done nothing wrong, he was arrested. This was a hard time for Peter, but Peter trusted Jesus through the hard time.
Jesus knew where Peter was. Jesus is God and Jesus knows all that happens to His people. Jesus is more powerful than any of His enemies. Other believers in the Lord Jesus knew Peter had been arrested for telling people the truth about how Jesus was God and that Jesus had come to live a perfect life, die on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world and that Jesus had come to life again and that showed He truly was the only Savior/God. Those other believers started praying for Peter! They prayed all day and all night. They trusted that God would do what was best for Peterduring this very hard time.
Peter was not scared when he was in the prison. No! Peter trusted Jesus even when things were really hard. Peter trusted Jesus so much that as he lay on that cold floor in the dark, all chained up, Peter went to sleep!
All of a sudden the prison lit up! An angel was there! The angel had to shake Peter awake!
“Come with me” the angel said.
The chains were unlocked and the prison door was unlocked! The angel led Peter out of the prison, past the guards and through the city. Then the angel left. Peter went to his friend’s house.
Knock, knock, knock.
A little girl named Rhoda came to the door. She saw Peter and was so happy and surprised she ran back to the others leaving Peter outside!
“Peter is outside!” She yelled.
“Nonsense, you’re out of your mind!” said the others, and they went back to praying!
“Listen to me!” Rhoda said, “Peter is really outside!”
The people went to the door; there was Peter!
God had delivered Peter out of the prison. God had more work for Peter to do to tell more and more people about the Lord Jesus Christ being the true Savior of the world.
God is more powerful than any enemy. God helps His people through the very hard things and God’s people can rest, knowing Jesus is always good and more powerful than all of His enemies.
Q & A
Who is more powerful than any of His enemies?
Who was Jesus’ special disciple friend that was arrested for telling the truth about Jesus?
What did Peter’s friends do while Peter was in a very hard place?
Did Peter do something bad to get arrested or was he arrested for telling people about Jesus?
Did Peter get really scared and stay awake crying or did Peter trust God and go to sleep?
Who woke Peter up?
What happened to the chains on Peter?
Who opened the door at Peter’s friend’s house?
Did the people believe Rhoda or say she was out of her mind?
Who is to be trusted always?
Songs:
Trust and Obey
Whose Side are leaning on?
If you Love Jesus