1. The Prison of No Escape So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16

2. Ancient prisons were places of horror. They were gloomy, crude, rat-infested dungeons. They were dirty and had no proper ventilation. Some prisons were so cramped and small that the prisoner could not even stand up straight. The Facts, Please! http://www.biblicaltravels.com/ct_brochure_Greece_Spr_02.htm

3. The Facts, Please! At first, the most common types of prisons were natural pits or caves. Cisterns, if there was no water in them, were sometimes used. Later, there were man-made prison houses. http://www.biblicaltravels.com/ct_brochure_Greece_Spr_02.htm

4. In New Testament times, when the Romans ruled Palestine, prisons were often part of the government headquarters or of a king’s palace. The Facts, Please!

5. http://www.padfield.com/italy/Rome_1/pages/Mamertine%20Prison_5.html This is believed to be the place where both Peter and Paul were imprisoned in Rome Mamertine Prison http://www.scholarscorner.com/museums/mamertin.htm

6. Roman guards were responsible to see that their prisoners didn’t escape. If they did, the guards could lose their lives. The King Herod of this story (the grandson of the Herod who tried to kill Baby Jesus) hated Christians and tried to get rid of them. The Facts, Please!

7. Acts 12:1-19 Bible Story: Peter Escapes from the “Prison of No Escape”

8. Match-Up: A Cry for God’s Help 1.When David was in great need, he called on 2.He told the Lord about his 3.In his path, enemies had set a 4.Who cared what happened to him? He said there was 5.He said that the Lord was his 6.He asked God to rescue him from his persecutors, for they were too 7.He wanted God to bring him out of his no one refuge prison troubles snare (trap) the Lord strong