Ages 7+ · Bible Stories · Easter and the early church
Peter's escape from prison
🔒a prison⛓️chains💡a bright light🚪an iron gate🏡Mary's house
Peter's escape.
The big ideaThe Bible tells how God answered the church's prayers and set Peter free.
How it works
The Bible tells how King Herod put Peter in prison in the week of Passover, and soldiers took turns guarding him. The church did not give up. Day and night they prayed for Peter at the house of Mary.
On the last night Peter slept between two soldiers, chained to both. A bright light filled the cell, and a messenger from God told him to get up. The chains fell off his hands.
Peter put on his belt and sandals and wrapped his coat around him. He followed past two guards, and the big iron gate opened all by itself.
At Mary's house a servant girl named Rhoda knew his voice, but she was so happy she forgot to open the gate! Peter kept knocking until they let him in. In the morning the soldiers found a heap of chains and nobody inside.
The night, in order.
🪢his belt🩴his sandals🧥his coat
What Peter put on.
Example 1: Follow Peter out
A bright light fills the cell, and the chains fall off.
Peter follows past the first guard and then the second.
The iron gate swings open all by itself, and he is out.
Example 2: A gate in the wall
In those days a house had a gate in its wall, and a servant answered it.
Rhoda knew Peter's voice.
She was so happy that she ran inside to tell everyone, and forgot to open it.
Example 3: When we worry
The church could not open the gate, but it could pray and stay together.
When you worry about someone, you can care for them and ask for help.
You could make a card, pray, or tell a grown-up.
Words to know
messenger
Someone sent with a message. Here, a bright light from God.
servant
A person who works in a house, like Rhoda.
Passover
A feast that remembers how God freed his people from Egypt.
Watch out
The iron gate opened all by itself. Nobody used a key or a hammer.
The church prayed together. They did not hide.
A servant girl named Rhoda answered the gate. The king did not.
The soldiers kept right on sleeping and did not hear a thing.
Try it
Who put Peter in prison?
What fell off Peter's hands?
Who forgot to open the gate because she was so happy?
How did the iron gate open?
Answers: 1. King Herod · 2. The chains · 3. Rhoda · 4. All by itself
Try at homeWith a grown-up, pray for a person who needs help, the way the church prayed for Peter.
For grown-upsThe episode leaves out the harm Herod did to others, and the soldiers are only baffled. Ask your child what we can do when we are worried about someone; the episode offers a card, a prayer, or telling a grown-up.
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