Unstoppable! 'Put on Your Sandals!' — Acts 12:7-8

Thursday, July 10, 2025

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. Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.

— Acts 12:7-8 NLT

Key Thought

I can't help but be amused at all the angel did to help Peter. Even though Peter was in prison with every indication that he would be executed as James had been (Acts 12:1-2), he was sleeping so soundly that a bright light didn't awaken him. So, the angel struck Peter on the side to awaken him. He told Peter to get dressed and put on his sandals. Finally, he told him to put on his coat and follow him out of prison. The angel sounds like a parent trying to get children ready, out the door, and headed to school on a cool morning. God's miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison is truly amazing, while the details are so down-to-earth and real-to-life that they can make us chuckle. God was determined to get Peter to safety, so he answered the disciples' prayers for Peter (Acts 12:12) both powerfully and simply. After letting the other disciples know of his release, Peter took the opportunity to go to "another place" - presumably away from Jerusalem so he could continue his preaching elsewhere.*

* Acts 12:17 simply says "another place." We know from Galatians 2 and the letters of 1 and 2 Peter that Peter preached in Antioch and Asia Minor, focusing predominantly on his mission to Jewish people.

Today's Prayer

O Father, our world needs your deliverance. Many of your children are imprisoned and abused by hostile forces, militias, and governments. We pray for their deliverance. We also pray for your help in delivering us from our selfish and pig-headed ways. We need miraculous deliverance from the sin that holds us captive. We need your Spirit to guide our efforts as we seek to overcome racism and the pain and division that ethnic hatred has caused. We ask you to use us and give us the courage to bring your deliverance to our broken world, just as you brought deliverance to Peter from jail and impending death. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 4:23-31
  • Acts 12:1-5

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 12:7-8 NLT — 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. Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.

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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.

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