And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. (7) And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. (8) And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. (9) And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. (10) When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
I need not attempt a comment where every word is so very plain? And sure I am, the simplicity of the history as here related, would lose its beauty, if I were to alter it by a needless explanation. But, I would observe, that the situation of Peter in this prison, hath been, and perhaps not unaptly considered, (besides its real history), as a lively representation of the child of God before his conversion, when in the prison of sin and Satan. Like Peter he may be truly said to be sleeping between two soldiers; both law and justice bound with the two chains of sin and death; and the keepers, Satan and his hellish crew, before the door guarding their lawful prisoner. Lawful, it may be truly called; for he hath made our whole nature his lawful captive, by reason of our original and actual transgressions. For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage, 2 Peter 2:19. And hence that blessed question of the Lord, Isaiah 49:24-26
The Angel of the Lord delivering Peter from the prison is like the Lord the Spirit by regeneration, rousing a sinner from the slumber of death in sin: for before this glorious act is wrought, every child of God is sleeping in sin; yea, dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1. But when the Lord the Spirit gives life to the soul, and he that was dead in sin, is made life in Christ; all chains fall from the poor sinner: for the Son of God having made him free, he shall be free indeed. He is at once delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, John 8:36; Colossians 1:13. And such is the mighty change wrought in his heart by grace, that, like Peter, the whole appears too good to be true, and for a while seems to be but a vision. He will indeed, being so enabled by the Lord, gird himself with strength in the Lord; bind on the garments of salvation, and his feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace: he will follow the Lord in the regeneration, through both the wards of providence, and grace; until he cometh to the iron gate of death, which leadeth to the city, and which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. But here the subject varieth. For forth with the angel departed from Peter. But Jesus never departs from his redeemed; for all his delivered captives enter with him into the holy city, and abide with him forever.