Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 12
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 12
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
One can only imagine this scene as the church, which had been praying around the clock, finally saw Peter show up at their doorstep. After James had been executed by King Herod, I’m sure they were fearing the same fate for Peter. When Peter was brought out of the prison, he thought it was just a vision, but when he found himself out on the streets, he realized that it was not a dream.
Meanwhile the soldiers, who were on watch when Peter was miraculously freed from prison, were held accountable for his escape with their lives. We read how ruthless King Herod was in history books and this story certainly shows that to be the case. Then we see Herod struck dead after giving a speech and accepting the adulation that he was like a “god”.
We continue to see the transformation of Peter from the man who denied Jesus three times and stood alone outside the courtyard afraid for his life, when Jesus was being arrested and tried. To the man who is leading the church and allowing the Spirit to use him in supernatural ways with deeds of power.
This story encourages us pray without ceasing as a church. We do a lot of things together as a church, and many of them are important and necessary. But how often do we get together to just pray for others in the church who are undergoing persecution? Although we are likely not presently being persecuted for our faith like Peter and these believers in the book of Acts, there are others around the world whose lives are in danger because of their testimony of faith.
God we pray for those who are being persecuted this very moment. We pray that you would work supernaturally to protect them like you did your servant Peter. God lead us to pray more for those who need your Spirit’s power and deliverance from oppressive leaders who wish to suppress the Christian movement in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
One can only imagine this scene as the church, which had been praying around the clock, finally saw Peter show up at their doorstep. After James had been executed by King Herod, I’m sure they were fearing the same fate for Peter. When Peter was brought out of the prison, he thought it was just a vision, but when he found himself out on the streets, he realized that it was not a dream.
Meanwhile the soldiers, who were on watch when Peter was miraculously freed from prison, were held accountable for his escape with their lives. We read how ruthless King Herod was in history books and this story certainly shows that to be the case. Then we see Herod struck dead after giving a speech and accepting the adulation that he was like a “god”.
We continue to see the transformation of Peter from the man who denied Jesus three times and stood alone outside the courtyard afraid for his life, when Jesus was being arrested and tried. To the man who is leading the church and allowing the Spirit to use him in supernatural ways with deeds of power.
This story encourages us pray without ceasing as a church. We do a lot of things together as a church, and many of them are important and necessary. But how often do we get together to just pray for others in the church who are undergoing persecution? Although we are likely not presently being persecuted for our faith like Peter and these believers in the book of Acts, there are others around the world whose lives are in danger because of their testimony of faith.
God we pray for those who are being persecuted this very moment. We pray that you would work supernaturally to protect them like you did your servant Peter. God lead us to pray more for those who need your Spirit’s power and deliverance from oppressive leaders who wish to suppress the Christian movement in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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