Reading of reading of June 29, 2026 (Mass during the day): Acts 12:1-11
In this issue:
Children’s story: God’s angel helps Peter escape from prison
Trivia
Bible Accent: King Herod was not the first person to imprison an apostle.
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus
Puzzle: True or false
King Herod wanted to harm the followers of Jesus, so he began persecuting members of the new Christian community.
First, he had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword.
Since James’ death seemed to please the people who did not believe in Jesus, King Herod also had Peter arrested. Peter was taken into custody and put under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
It was the feast of Unleavened Bread, the weeklong festival that follows Passover. The king’s plan was to bring Peter before the people after Passover was done.
While Peter was in prison, members of the Christian community fervently prayed to God on his behalf.
On the night before Peter was to be brought to trial, he was secured by double chains, sleeping between two soldiers. Outside the door, guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly, a light shown in the cell, and the angel of God stood before Peter.
The angel tapped Peter on the side to wake him up. The chains fell from Peter’s wrists as the angel told him to get up quickly and follow him.
Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He thought he was having a vision and did not realize that what he was experiencing was real.
Peter and the angel passed the first guard, then the second without being noticed.
They came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They exited the gate and made their way down an alley.
As suddenly as he had appeared, the angel left Peter.
Peter finally recovered his senses.
“Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod,” he said.
Peter made his way to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer for him.
Peter knocked on the door. The maid who came to answer the door became excited when she heard Peter’s voice. She was so overjoyed that she didn’t let Peter in and instead ran to tell everyone who was at the door.
At first, no one believed the maid. When they finally went to the door to see for themselves, they saw Peter and were astounded.
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
Acts 12
Q&A
1. Who had Peter arrested?
2. Who led Peter out of the prison?
Trivia
What was the name of the maid who forgot to let Peter in the door? (Hint: Acts 12:13)
Answer: Rhoda.
Bible Accent
King Herod was not the first person to imprison an apostle.
In Acts 5, we read that the high priest and the Sadducees had the apostles put in jail for preaching about Jesus.
During the night, an angel of God appeared at the prison, opened the doors and led the apostles out.
“Go and take your place in the Temple area, and tell the people everything about this life,” the angel said.
In the morning, the apostles went to the Temple to teach.
At the same time, the high priest convened the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling body of the Israelites. He asked that the apostles be brought in from jail.
The court officers went to the prison and found that the apostles were gone.
As they were reporting their findings to the high priest, a man rushed in.
“The men whom you put in prison are in the Temple area and are teaching the people,” he said.
The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and asked why they were preaching about Jesus when they were told not to.
“We must obey God rather than men,” the apostles said.
The apostles were beaten, ordered to stop speaking in Jesus’ name and released.
The apostles rejoiced, and they continued to teach about Jesus.
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus
Amabile Visintainer was born in Italy in 1865. When she was 10, she and her family moved to Brazil.
Amabile was known for her piety and charity. A Jesuit priest helped her and some of her friends to begin living together in community. In 1890, they formed the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, which later was formally recognized by Rome.
Amabile took the name Sister Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. She was her order’s first superior and saw it grow to five provinces in Brazil.
We remember her on July 9.
Puzzle
Using the hints provided, put a T next to the questions about the first Christian community that are true and an F next to the ones that are false. If a question is false, put the correct answer on the line at the end of the sentence.
1. ___ Members of the first Christian community shared their possessions. (Acts 4:32). _______
2. ___ The Hebrews complained that their widows were being neglected. (Acts 6:1) _______
3. ___ Saul tried to destroy the church and had followers of Jesus arrested. (Acts 8:1) _______
4. ___ After a disagreement with Barnabas, Paul went on missions with Mark instead. (Acts 15:36-40) _______
Answers: 1. T; 2. F (the Hellenists); 3. T; 4. F (Silas)
