Advanced Lesson 4 -
Peter Is Rescued
Reading Exercise
This reading exercise is the second part of Advanced Lesson 4, Peter is Rescued. You can also do it as an individual reading exercise.
First, here are the answers to the listening questions for this lesson.
1. Where was Peter at the beginning of the passsage?
He was in jail.
2. How did the angel help Peter escape?
The angel woke Peter up and let the chains fall off Peter’s hands. The angel instructed Peter to get dressed and follow him. The angel led the way to the iron gate to the city, which opened by itself.
3. What was Rhoda’s reaction when she heard Peter’s voice at the gate of Mary’s house?
She was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and told everyone that Peter was there.
4. What did Peter say to the Lord’s followers who had gathered at Mary’s house?
He told them how the Lord had helped him escape by sending an angel. He told them to tell James and the others what had happened.
5. What did Herod do the next day?
Herod ordered his soldiers to search for Peter. When they could not find him, Herod questioned them and had them killed. After this, Herod left Judea.
Reading Text
Here is the text for this story. Read it several times. Try to understand the words in the context of each sentence. We will talk about vocabulary in the next exercise.
When you have finished reading, download the PDF if you like. Read and listen together a few more times.
Peter Is Rescued
Acts 12:6-19 CEV
The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”
The chains fell off his hands, and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream. They went past the two groups of soldiers, and when they came to the iron gate to the city, it opened by itself. They went out and were going along the street, when all at once the angel disappeared.
Peter now realized what had happened, and he said, “I am certain that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.” Then Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many of the Lord’s followers had come together there and were praying.
Peter knocked on the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to [the door]. When she heard Peter’s voice, she was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and said [that] Peter was standing there.
[Everyone told her, “You are crazy!”] But she kept saying [that] it was Peter. Then they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed.
Peter motioned for them to keep quiet. Then he told how the Lord had led him out of jail. He also said, “Tell James and the others what has happened.” After that, he left and went somewhere else.
The next morning the soldiers who had been on guard were terribly worried and wondered what had happened to Peter. Herod ordered his own soldiers to search for him, but they could not find him. Then he questioned the guards and had them put to death. After this, Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
Here is the audio recording again, so you can read as you listen.
Peter Is Rescued: Acts 12:6-19 CEV
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