“When God Is with Us and Prayer Is Behind Us 當神與我們同在，並禱告作我們後盾時 … “（Acts 使徒行传 12:1-10）
… King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. … So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. … Peter was sleeping between two soldiers … Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and … struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, ‘Put on your clothes and sandals. … Wrap your cloak round you and follow me,’ … but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. … came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
… 希律王下手苦害教會中的幾個人 … 彼得就這樣被拘留在監裡；但教會卻為他迫切地祈求 … 彼得睡在兩個士兵中間 … 忽然，有主的一位使者出現 … 拍拍彼得的肋旁，喚醒他，說：“快起來！… 束上帶子，穿上鞋！… 披上外衣，跟我走！”… 但他不知道天使所作的事是真的，還以為是見了異象。… 來到通往城內的鐵門，那門自動給他們開了。他們出來，往前走了一條街，天使立刻離開了他。
Herod persecuted Christians out of purely political motives. He decided to deal with Peter at a politically opportune time and assigned a high-security detail to guard Peter knowing of his mysterious escape from prison (with the other apostles) before. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but the church was free to pray and God sent His angel to rescue him. With no signs of anxiety Peter was able to sleep soundly on what seemed to be the last night before his execution. He obeyed the angel without really knowing what was happening. He knew enough to sense that God was doing something and the explanation could come later. The soldiers, the chains, the guard posts, the iron gate – were all nothing when God was with Peter and prayer was behind him.
希律是出於純粹的政治動機而去迫害基督徒，他決定在政治上適當的時候處置彼得，並聽聞他（與其他使徒一起）之前神秘的逃獄，特別選派兵丁高度看管他。彼得因此被囚在監獄裡，但教會可以自由地禱告，而神差派祂的天使拯救他。彼得沒有表現出焦慮的跡象，能夠在臨刑前的晚上睡得香甜。他在不知道發生了甚麼的情況下聽從了天使，有足夠的認知去感覺神正在做某事，而解釋可以晚一點才知道。當神與彼得同在並禱告作他後盾時，兵丁、鐵鍊、守衛的崗、鐵門，這一切都算不了甚麼。
Prayer: Father God, many political figures are ready to persecute Christians especially in the end of the age if it will make them politically popular. Thank you for reminding us that when every other gate is shut and locked, the gate to heaven is wide open. May we take advantage of that open gate through prayer and pursue constant, earnest prayer which demonstrates that our heart cares passionately about the things you care about. Amen.
禱告: 父神啊，如果能夠使自己在政治上受歡迎，許多政治人物都樂意迫害基督徒，特別是在這末世裡。感謝你提醒我們，當所有其它的門被關閉和鎖上時，通向天堂的大門是敞開的。願我們透過禱告來善用那扇敞開的大門，並追求恆常、懇切的禱告，它表明我們熱切關心你所關心的事物。阿們。
