Unstoppable! 'These Chains Won't Hold' — Acts 12:6-7

Thursday, July 9, 2026

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists.

— Acts 12:6-7 NLT

Key Thought

As Luke shared the details about Herod's arrest, imprisonment, and planned execution of the apostle Peter, he emphasized human restraints aligned against Jesus' servant to keep him confined. Peter was put in prison with 16 guards (Acts 12:4) and was chained to two of them, with others guarding the prison gate. However, none of these precautions could withstand the power and will of God. Throughout the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, Roman officials generally were tolerant, even open, to the truth about Jesus. Still, Jesus' adversaries had to have Roman approval to crucify him, and Pilate granted them that right. For some politicians, political might often trumps what is spiritually right. However, the Scriptures remind us that all those who have misused their political authority to harass, oppose, manipulate, exploit, persecute, and kill Jesus' followers will have to face judgment.* In the end, Jesus' spiritual power always trumps human military and political might. That is one reason we pray with passion!

* See the Related Scripture Readings, below.

Today's Prayer

Loving Father, my prayer today is focused on one concern: Please protect, strengthen, and deliver all of your servants detained and persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. I ask this in the name of my Savior. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Put on Your Sandals!
Devo: Unstoppable!
"Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said,..."
Living My MUSD #5: Shared Prayer through Interceding Personally
Article by Phil Ware
Even when confined to our houses and limited in our travels and frustrated with social distancing, we still have the incredible ability to pray for others. Phil Ware opens the New Testament and reminds of a great way to live out our mission while under social distancing, prayer because prayer has always been a virtual way of blessing others.
Surprised?
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, I hope you enjoy reading the verses below as much as I enjoyed being at work in the lives of My disciples bringing them deliverance. ....."
Committed or Comfortable?
Article by Rick Brown
What do we need to get us to stretch out a bit? Rick Brown talks about a famous photograph and the message to pray and have hope in the darkest of times, and to remember that fervent and earnest prayer is the kind of prayer the early church, the committed church prayed.

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 12:6-7 NLT — The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, July 9, 2026

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'I Will Sing Praise to Your Name' (Ps. 9:2)
"I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Joshua 2:21
"Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies, whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel. Her faith was..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Attracting a Crowd' (Jn. 6:1-2)
"After [his confrontation with the Jewish leaders], Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Beware: False Teachers May Be in Your Group'
"There used to be false prophets among God's people, just as you will have some false teachers in your group. They will secretly teach things that are..."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Unstoppable!