5 While Peter was kept in prison the church prayed earnestly to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to have him put on trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, chained to each of them, and with guards at the door keeping watch. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter awake, saying "Quick! Get up!" The chains fell from his wrists, 8 and the angel told him, "Get dressed, and put on your sandals." So he did. Then the angel told him, "Put on your coat and follow me." 9 So Peter followed the angel out. He didn’t realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening—he thought he was seeing a vision.
10 They passed the first and second sets of guards, and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This opened for them by itself. They went out and down the street, when suddenly the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to his senses, he said, "Now I realize this really happened! The Lord sent an angel to rescue me from Herod’s power, and from everything that the Jewish people had planned."
12 Now that he was conscious of what had happened, Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many believers had gathered there, and were praying.