On the verynightwhenHerodwas aboutto bring him forward,Peterwas sleepingbetweentwosoldiers,boundwith twochains,and guardsin frontof the doorwere watching overthe prison.
Abrahamcalledthe nameof that placeThe LORDWill Provide,as it is saidto this day,"In the mountof the LORDit will be provided."
In peaceI will bothliedownand sleep,For You alone,O LORD,make me to dwellin safety.
The wordwhichcameto Jeremiahfrom the LORDafterNebuzaradancaptainof the bodyguardhad releasedhim from Ramah,when he had takenhim boundin chainsamongallthe exilesof Jerusalemand Judahwho were being exiledto Babylon.
"But now,behold,I am freeingyou todayfrom the chainswhichare on your hands.Ifyou would preferto comewith me to Babylon,come[along], and I will lookafteryou; but ifyou would prefernot to comewith me to Babylon,nevermind.Look,the wholelandis beforeyou; gowhereverit seems goodand rightfor you to go."
The guardsshookfor fearof him and becamelikedead men.
SoPeterwas keptin the prison,but prayerfor him was being madeferventlyby the churchto God.
Thenthe commandercameup and took holdof him, and orderedhim to be boundwith twochains;and he [began] askingwhohe was and whathe had done.
"For thisreason,therefore,I requestedto seeyou and to speakwith you, for I am wearingthischainfor the sakeof the hopeof Israel."
saying,"We foundthe prison houselockedquitesecurelyand the guardsstandingat the doors;but when we had openedup, we foundno oneinside."
for whichI am an ambassadorin chains;that in [proclaiming] it I may speak boldly,as I oughtto speak.
I would have said,"I will cutthem to pieces,I will removethe memoryof them from men,"
The Lordgrantmercyto the houseof Onesiphorus,for he oftenrefreshedme and was not ashamedof my chains;
sothat we confidentlysay,"THE LORDIS MY HELPER,I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.WHATWILL MANDOTO ME?"
