Acts 12:1-17 Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance
12 Now about that time [a]Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm. 2 And he had James the brother of John executed with a sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were [b]the days of Unleavened Bread.) 4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four [c]squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after the Passover to bring him before the people. 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God [d]intensely by the church. 6 On [e]the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and [f]strap on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter came [g]to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all [h]that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 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. 13 When he knocked at the door of the gate, a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to [i]James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. (The New American Standard Bible. Bible Gateway, biblegateway.com, Accessed June 25, 2023.
Question: When God answers your prayer, will you recognize it?
(Verse 5) So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God. The text tells us that the people were praying, and the Bible teaches us to ask, knock, and make our request known. But we must believe He is going to do it for us, and we must recognize and receive when it arrives. When answered prayer goes unrecognized, we forfeit, dismiss, and sometimes misinterpret the will of God.
(Verse 13) When he knocked at the door of the gate, a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. Rhoda was so excited that she forgot to open the door for the answered prayer. Had Peter become impatient, frightened, and left the gate, Rhoda would have forfeited the opportunity to see the manifestation of the prayer.
(Verse 15) They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Rhoda didn’t let him in, but the others dismissed him as being there, and assumed he was dead. If they assumed he was dead, exactly what were they praying. Because unbelief hinders, if not nullifies, our prayer all together. Understand that unbelief gives the enemy the authority to steal our prayer.
(Verse 16) But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. Before we commit to prayer, we should settle it in our hearts that God can answer and if it is His will, He will answer our prayer. As we wait in expectation for our prayers to be answered, our posture should reflect thankful and not amazed once it’s answered.
Let’s use this example to remind us of a few things. First, commit to praying God’s will be done. Second, believe that God will answer. And third, however the answer arrives, we need to be in a posture to recognize it. Which means we need to revoke our own imagination in how God is going to deliver. Because our creative minds may cause us to forfeit, dismiss, or misinterpret the will of God.
Prayer: Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to correct our ways. We thank you for knowing us and how the gift of creative thinking can block us from recognizing your hand in our lives. We confess your ways are not like our ways, and your theocracy overrules our free will and free thinking. As we grow closer to thee and you closer to us, our Spirit will become one with you and recognizing your answers will become easier. Until then, Father, show mercy and compassion to us, your children, and we will glorify your name on the Earth.
In Jesus name
Amen
Categories: Journey
