Wednesday, February 4th

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Wednesday, Feb. 4

Acts 12:1-17

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 

When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!" But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

A number of years ago my brother and his family surprised us at Christmastime by arriving at our house a day earlier than expected. The doorbell rang and we heard the sound of Christmas carolers on our porch so someone jumped up and ran to the front door. I can no longer remember who that was - but whoever did was so surprised that he or she failed to invite my brother and his family to come in; just left them on the porch singing and rand into the house to tell the rest of us about our surprise carolers.

That’s kind of what happens here. A whole group of believers are gathered to pray for Peter, who they know is in prison and facing a fate similar to that of James.

There is a knock on the door and they send the servant girl, named Rhoda, to answer. Evidently she asks the visitor to identify himself, and recognizing Peter’s voice she is so excited she leaves him on the street and runs to tell the others.

This is one of those small, unnecessary details that point to the authenticity of the New Testament record. Why would someone think to put an insignificant servant girl in the story by name if that’s not the way things actually happened?

I also can’t help but notice the humanity of the early believers. Here they are in a prayer meeting; almost certainly pleading with God for the release and protection of their friend Peter; and when he actually shows up and knocks on the door they don’t believe it.

Have you ever prayed for something you don’t really believe God can do? I think most of us have.

Sometimes we struggle to see what God is doing even when he’s doing it right in front of our noses.

But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

Yesterday we wrestled with the question of why evil and suffering are in the world. We questioned why God would allow James to be executed but sent an angel to rescue Peter?

While we struggle to trust God’s sovereignty in the martyrdom of James, we can see a bit more clearly his purposes in Peter’s miraculous deliverance.

Peter’s knocking on the door during the prayer meeting had to have a powerful impact on that small group of believers. It was God’s way of showing them that their prayers mattered; that he had not abandoned them; that although evil men like Herod seem to rule the world he is still God and is sovereign over all things.

Peter’s escape means that even though James has been taken from them, their faith is not in vain and the gospel has not been defeated.

I wonder where in your life you need to be reminded that your prayers matter? Where in your life do you need to be reminded that the gospel has not been defeated?

Pastor Brian Coffey