The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul | Thursday 29 June 2023

Today is Thursday the 29th of June, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’. How do you need the Lord today in your life?


I need Thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford
I need Thee oh I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh bless me now my Saviour
I come to Thee
I need Thee oh I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh bless me now my Saviour
I come to Thee
I need Thee oh I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh bless me now my Saviour
I come to Thee
Oh I need Thee
Oh I need Thee
I come to Thee

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.


Acts 12:1-11

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Judeans, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’

Before we take a glimpse into the main body of today’s text, let the verses at the beginning have impact: Herod laying violent hands upon some who belonged to the church; James killed by the sword; Herod taking further terrifying action when he sees it makes him popular. Sordid scenes of persecution. Take a moment right now to pause and pray for those suffering today because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

What for you is the most striking image in today’s passage? Perhaps it’s the power of God bursting forth. Perhaps it’s in a detail such as the angel tapping Peter on the side to wake him up. Take part in the scene. Walk with Peter. Allow the drama to pull you along.


As you hear the passage again, watch God at work in real-life crisis. See Peter beyond deeply encouraged by this rescue mission. Consider the role of the angel.


Where do you long to see God at work today? Speak with God, in these closing moments, about your yearning for God’s intervention. Give thanks for this gripping scene of rescue and escape. It’s a scene that surely gives hope.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.