During the night before the day on which "Herod would have brought Peter forth, he was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side," (to awaken him,) "and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands," (without disturbing the keepers). "And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Peter did as he was told; but all this time he was not aware that he was really free, but thought he was merely dreaming: he "wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward," (different parts of the prison, without being perceived by any of those who kept the doors,) "they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him." His miraculous work being now accomplished, the angel left Peter to go on his own way. The departure of his heavenly guide seems to have aroused Peter to the reality of what had happened; he no longer thought he had seen a vision. "And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark." This Mark, whose name was also John, was the writer of the Gospel bearing his name: his mother was sister to Barnabas, and her house was no doubt a place, where the Christian brethren often met for the purpose of prayer; and now, although it was not yet daylight, "many were gathered together praying." Probably they had spent the night in prayer for the deliverance of Peter. "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate."