death publicly. But prayer[1] was made unceasingly by the infant Church for Peter.
Now, on the night preceding the day on which he was to be put to death, Peter, being bound with two chains, slept between two soldiers[2]. The other soldiers kept watch at the door of the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter, and a bright light shone all around. The angel struck Peter on the side and awakened him, saying: “Arise quickly!” He did so, and the chains fell from off his hands. Then the angel spoke to him: “Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals and follow me!” Peter obeyed, not knowing, however, whether it[3] were a dream[4] or a reality.
Going out, they passed through the first and second ward or watch, and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened of itself before them. But when they came out of the prison yard, and had passed along one street, the angel disappeared.
Then Peter, coming to himself[5], found it was not a dream, and exclaimed: “Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation[6] of the people of the Jews.”
He then went to the house of Mark [7], where many Christians were assembled in prayer. When Peter knocked at the door, a young girl named Rhode came to listen[8]. On hearing and recognising Peter’s voice the girl was so delighted that she forgot to open the door, and ran in haste to tell the others. But they supposed that she had lost her mind. Yet she insisted that
- ↑ Prayer. That he might be delivered from death.
- ↑ Two soldiers. With one hand chained to each soldier. He slept soundly and calmly, in spite of the knowledge that he was to be put to death next morning; for his conscience was at peace, and he was entirely resigned to the will of God.
- ↑ It. i. e. what he saw and heard.
- ↑ A dream. For he was still heavy with sleep, and had not quite come to the right use of his senses.
- ↑ To himself. To a full and clear consciousness.
- ↑ The expectation. From all that the Jews expected to happen to him, i. e. his execution.
- ↑ Mark. Or of Mary the mother of Mark, in whose house a number of the faithful had assembled, in the stillness of the night, in order to pray for their chief pastor. This Mark was in later years one of the Evangelists, and was the special follower or disciple of St. Peter.
- ↑ Listen. Who was outside.
