I've probably heard dozens of messages about Peter's escape from jail, but last Sunday I finally got it. Maybe it's because I'm in the midst of arranging a meeting with an imprisoned man for a new book I'm working on. Or maybe it's because I got two speeding tickets and I'm worried the third one might send me to jail. Whatever the reason, here's how I sum up Chapter 12:

Herod gets cranky and decides to take it out on the Christians by cutting James in halves. The Jews, likely relieved that they aren't being asked to volunteer for Herod's magic trick, get all excited about James's death. So Herod, buoyed by the love fest with the Jews, has Peter arrested, and in a show of military might, assigns 16 guards to keep watch over him. Herod keeps Peter in jail till he can work a pay-per-view deal with HBO to televise the slaughter.

The church, mortified by James's unsightly death, and worried sick about Peter responds by praying around the clock.

The night before his planned execution Peter is sleeping soundly -- without the aid of ambien or valium. He's chained to two big burly guys. Sometime after midnight a heavy-footed angel kicks him awake, and tells him to hurry it up, will ya? Move quickly. Oh, yeah, tie those sandals first, and grab a robe on your way out, now follow me.

Peter thinks he’s still asleep when this is happening. Ever have one of those dreams where you can’t tell whether you are asleep or awake? This is one of those.

As soon as Peter gets outside the big ol gates, the angel gives Peter the Hang Ten signal and takes off. Then Peter “comes to himself” and realizes he ain’t dreaming. He’s a real-life escaped convict.

After considering his options, he seeks refuge at Big Mama’s house, where a bunch of people were gathered around praying for him.

Rhoda, the gopher-girl, answers the knock on the gate, recognizes Peter’s voice, but instead of unlocking the gate, she runs back inside to tell everyone that Peter had arrived. (Would you let an escaped convict into your home? Even one you knew? And risk being part of  Herod’s magic show (See me slice this one in half!)

Big Mama said Rhoda was talking out of her head. Crazy Rhoda. But Rhoda insisted, He’s there, I’m telling you! Peter's there!

Okay, Rhoda, calm down, honey, Big Mama says. Maybe what you seen is Peter’s angel.

Meanwhile, Peter’s standing outside Big Mama’s, rapping on that gate, hoping somebody lets him in before Herod’s henchmen turn the coon dogs loose.

Finally, somebody inside the house heard Peter’s frantic knocking and Big Mama and the others gathered outside to see who was causing all the ruckus. They found Peter standing there.

They did not invite him in.Big Mama and the others had been praying for Peter’s release -- they just never figured on harboring a fugitive. They probably were wishing Peter had gone three doors down. So they just stood around, yammering, stammering, trying to figure out how what to do with an escaped convict.

Peter, still expecting the coon dogs, held up his hand and hushed Big Mama and the prayer group. He told them what happened, how he was asleep when Gabe’s cousin kicked him awake, told him to hurry up and git them shoes laced up and grab a coat, we gotta get outta here lickety-quick. As soon as he finished explaining himself, Peter asked Big Mama and the others to please let James and the others know that he was okay. Apparently he missed the memo about James’s death by Herod’s sword. Peter did the scram-sham-shuffle before Big Mama and the others had a chance to tell him about James.

Meanwhile, back at the palace jailhouse, the bad-breath guards awoke to find Peter missing-in-action. It was without question an oh-shit moment. All of the Homeland Security force was put on high alert. As soon as Herod found out the terrorist Peter had escaped, he did what most any world leader would do -- he killed his own task force. 

Pastor Terry said that there isn't any prison of any sort, in any place that prayer cannot penetrate. The thing that has stayed with me, however, is how unprepared we are a people to deal with answered prayer when it happens. Peter thought his release was a vision. Big Mama cooked for everybody and let them c'mon over to her house for the prayer meeting, but apparently she and the others hadn't considered the kinks to harboring a fugitive, so when Peter came a'knocking, they were gob-smacked. They never considered God's plan might require them to do something more than pray. They were relieved when Peter decided not to stick around.

Have you ever been in one of those situations like Big Mama and the church where you almost regretted that God answered your prayers?