In this passage King Herod starts persecuting the church, killing James and putting Peter in prison to win favor with the Jewish leaders. While Peter is locked up under tight guard, the church keeps praying for him nonstop. In the middle of the night, God sends an angel who wakes Peter up, breaks his chains, and leads him right out of prison. Peter finally realizes it was God who rescued him. The story shows that no human power can stand in the way of God’s plan and that He hears the prayers of His people, continuing to spread the good news of Jesus, no matter the cost.