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

What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Putting Poverty in Perspective' (Jn. 12:7-8)
"[When Judas said the expensive perfume Mary used to anoint Jesus should have been sold and the money given to the poor,] Jesus replied, "Leave her..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Jesus' Parting Gift' (Jn. 14:25-27)
"[Jesus said,] "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'In All He Has Made' (Ps. 104:31)
"May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!"
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Proverbs 11:25
"We are here taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we must make others..."

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!