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.

18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to [j]what could have become of Peter. 19 When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Acts 12:12-19 (NASB) 中文

Peter persecuted

Herod Agrippa I the king of the Jews was persecuting the new church. He had James, brother of John, killed with a sword (12:2).  Peter was captured and thrown into prison with the intent to kill him at the end of the Passover celebration. But God stepped in and miraculously rescued him from the Roman prison.

Prayer answered

Remember this was late night/early morning when Peter gets to Mary’s house. They’re all praying and crying out for Peter to be what? What did they pray for?  Probably not for a jailbreak! No one can believe it’s Peter at the gate and poor Rhoda is so excited she forgets to let him in! But their prayer has been answered. Imagine their emotions when this happens! Some had the feeling before – after seeing Jesus had risen from the dead. 

Then Peter gave instructions to notify James, the half-brother of Jesus and leader in the church, of his rescue.

Aftermath

Herod must have been not a little upset that such a valuable prisoner had escaped. In Roman culture, soldiers had a strong motivation to guard prisoners well. If the prisoner escaped, the guard paid the crime the prisoner was to suffer so in this case, they were killed. And Herod heads off to Caesarea (where Peter was previously (Acts 10:44-48).

RЯeflection

• Is there something you prayed for diligently, that couldn’t happen, but you persevered in prayer? Remember that time and thank God for how He answered. Share in the comments if you would. 
• Are you up against a challenge that seems impossible? Maybe you subtly, for whatever reason, think God can’t answer it or, He’s too busy. Re-think who our God is! “Our God is in the Heavens; He does whatever He pleases!” (Psalm 115:3)