adapted from Acts 12:1-19 by Robert Skead

Jesus had risen! He had risen indeed!
And the disciples were baptized with pow’r to succeed.
Power from on high to spread the Word
about the love of Jesus which needed to be heard.

And in the region of Judea, in that part of the land,
a king named Herod was in command.
Now Herod the king was a very bad man.
And in his proud heart he conceived a plan.

“These Christians are trouble,” he proclaimed from his perch.
“They must be stopped.” So he went after the church.

It was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread
that Herod arrested Peter. Word quickly spread
back to Peter’s friends who were hidden away.
As soon as they heard, they began to pray.

They prayed for a miracle to the Lord on His throne.
They prayed in groups, and they prayed all alone.
They prayed all day, and they prayed all night.
They prayed to God with all of their might.

It was the night before the trial. Peter lay asleep
between two soldiers but in God’s faithful keep.
Sentries stood guard outside the door,
watching for movement in the corridor.

Suddenly a bright light appeared in Peter’s cell,
as an angel woke up Peter and the chains fell
off Peter’s wrists, then Peter got dressed.
He followed the angel and was miraculously blessed.

They walked past the guards, without being seen.
In fact, in Peter’s mind, it seemed like a dream.
They strolled past more guards and up to the gate.
The Lord delivered Peter from an untimely fate.

The gate, it opened all on its own.
The angel and Peter headed for home.
The angel and Peter walked the length of one street.
Then the angel left him—the escape now complete.

Peter knew right away he’d been helped from above.
The Lord sent an angel because of His great love.
Now Herod’s plans were totally destroyed,
and Peter’s heart was again overjoyed.

So he went to the house of Mary, mother of John,
where many were praying hard and long.

Peter knocked on the door until he was let in
and told the astonished crowd where he had been
and how he was delivered from Herod’s sword.
Thanks to the power of the living Lord.

Well, the very next morning the prison guards were amazed.
They had no idea where Peter was; Herod cut short their days.
Herod searched for Peter, but he could not be found.
For Peter was safe with the Christian underground.

And Peter, the man Jesus called “Rock,”
started spreading the Word and feeding the flock.

He preached the gospel all over the land
with boldness and power, and men began to understand
how much God loved them and that He sent His Son
to save us from our sins—our lives He has won.

Here’s something important you should know,
and keep in your heart as you daily grow.
This Jesus whom Peter proclaimed also loves you.
What God did for Peter, He’ll do for you, too!

	Q: Why did the basketball player put his cookie in the milk? A: Because he loved to dunk. Jacob P., 5, Michigan Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe