Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
An angel led Peter out of prison
While Peter slept chained between two soldiers, an angel woke him, his chains fell off, and the iron gate opened by itself. Acts 12:6–11
Discover why
Herod had Peter guarded by four squads of soldiers. The night before his trial, an angel stood by him, a light shone, and the chains fell from his hands. Acts 12:4–7
They passed the guards and came to the iron gate, "which opened to them by itself". Peter thought he was seeing a vision until he found himself in the street. Acts 12:8–11
At Mary's house the servant girl Rhoda was so glad to hear his voice that she ran in without opening the door. Acts 12:12–16
Read the passage
Acts 12:6–11 WEB
6The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. 8The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
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For children
Peter was chained up in prison. An angel woke him, his chains fell off, and a big iron gate opened by itself!