17. The Girl Who Knew She Was Right

(Acts 12)

Once there was a girl, possibly about sixteen years of age, who lived with her father and mother in the dreadful days of the persecution against the early Christians. One evening her mother said: “Rose, your father and I are going to a friend’s house to-night to pray. Herod, the wicked king, who killed the apostle James, John’s brother, has shut up Peter in prison for several days—and to-morrow he is going to put Peter to death. The Christians are to pray to-night for Peter’s release from prison.” “Mother,” said Rose, “I am a Christian too; let me go and pray with you.” Her mother consented. For some hours the Christians earnestly prayed; and after midnight they were still on their knees praying, when suddenly Rose, being nearer the door, heard a knock on the outside gate. She quickly arose from her knees, ran to the door and said, “Who’s there?” “It is I—I—Peter,” came a voice. Again she said, “Who is it?” “I—Peter,” came again the voice. She knew at once it was Peter’s voice, but in her joy and excitement she forgot to open the door, running back into the prayer-meeting room and crying out, “Peter is out of prison! Peter is at the door.” All arose from their knees and said, “Rose, you must be crazy to talk like that.” “No, I am not,” she said; “it is Peter!”

“Isn’t it too bad?” said one, “Herod has already killed Peter, not waiting until to-morrow; and God has sent Peter’s angel to comfort us.” “No,” cried Rose; “no, it is not Peter’s angel; it is Peter himself! I know I am right! Listen, there he is knocking again!”

All heard the knocking and went toward the gate, and there stood Peter, alive and well. “How did you get out of prison?” they exclaimed. “Hush!” said Peter, beckoning them to be quiet; “let me in, and I will tell you!” He stood just inside the gate, and this is what he said: “Last night I was in prison, knowing well that Herod intended to kill me this morning. I was guarded by sixteen soldiers, and each of my wrists was chained to a soldier, one on each side. I knew you were praying for me, and I believed that Jesus would answer your prayers. So I had no worry, but fell peacefully asleep, and in my dream I thought I saw an angel come into my cell; my chains fell off; the angel said, ‘Rise and put on your sandals and cloak and follow me,’ I followed the angel past the first and second cells and the sleeping soldiers, and when we came to the outer gate it opened of its own accord. When we were in the street the angel vanished. I thought it all a dream until I found myself really out of prison with no chains on my wrists, no soldiers guarding me, no prison-cell enclosing me. I saw then that your prayers for me were answered, and that Jesus had sent his angel and delivered me out of prison. I came here as soon as I could to tell you, but now I must go quickly to another place. Good-bye, God bless you all!”

In a few moments the gray streaks of the morning came, and it was light. The soldiers awoke and cried, “Where is Peter?” One after another echoed the cry, “What has become of Peter?” No soldier and no officer could tell, for none knew. But Rose, the Christian girl, knew that in answer to prayer Jesus had sent his angel and delivered Peter out of prison and she knew that her prayer had been answered as much as the prayers of any of the Christians, and she was glad she had been in that prayer-meeting that night!