(This page is repeated from yesterday, since it did not go to those who receive the email).
Acts 12 is a wonderful chapter, filled with action, amazement, and humor. “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church” (v. 5). Herod had executed James, one of the “Sons of Thunder.” James was the first of the original apostles to die because of his being a follower of Jesus. When Herod saw that many were pleased with James’s death, he arrested Peter with the same intention. On the night before Peter would probably have been killed, he was sleeping between two soldiers. He had once seen his Master asleep in a boat despite the danger of a raging storm. In like manner, Peter did not allow his pending execution to disturb his sleep! An angel appeared, the chains fell off, and the locked doors opened before them as they passed at least four prison guards. All this time, Peter thought he was seeing a vision, but when they were outside and the angel vanished, he knew it was all very real.
“Peter said, ‘Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me…And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying’” (vv. 11-12). He knocked on the door, and a servant named Rhoda went to the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited she did not open the door but exclaimed to the others, “Peter is at the door!” They thought she had lost her mind, but she kept insisting, so they thought he had been killed and his angel was standing outside. All this time, Peter kept on knocking, and when they finally opened the door, they were astonished to see him standing there! Luke had written they were praying “intensely” for Peter’s release, but they were not really expecting God to answer. May this be a teachable moment for each of us who pray without expecting God to deliver!
Luke adds two things as side notes. First, Herod died because of his pride and refusal to give God the glory, even though God allowed him to be king. Here is a man who had authority to use for good, and he used it to condemn God’s servants. By contrast, James and Peter were humble fishermen who simply agreed to follow Christ, and they are the true heroes of our story. Second, Luke mentions John Mark. It was to his mother’s house that Peter went after his miraculous release. Barnabas and Saul had come to Jerusalem to deliver an offering from Antioch (11:30). When they returned to Antioch, they took with them John Mark, who was related to Barnabas. Thus begins the story of the young man who wrote the first gospel (12:25).
-Al Gary
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