Journey Through Acts (Acts 12)

Read - Acts 12

My Key Verse - Acts 12:12-17 Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter's voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street.

But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.

Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and went off to another place.

My Reflection - When I first read this story I wrote in my bible, "What kind of faith was this? Isn't this what they prayed for?"

How humorous is this story? Peter just gets out of jail in one of the most miraculous ways. Makes his way to the house where they were at. Knocks on the door. Rhoda comes to see who it is...I can just imagine it from Peter's side.

Peter: Knock, Knock.

Rhoda: Who Is It?

Peter: It's me Pete open up I think the cops are coming.

Rhoda: Who?

Peter It's me Pete, you know walked on water...Pete...OPEN UP I thinks the cops are coming.

Rhoda: Pete's not here.

Peter: KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

Rhoda: Who is it?

Peter: It's me Peter, Open up.

Rhoda: Peter?

Peter: Yeah Peter...was with Jesus...you know your Pastor now.

Rhoda: Peter it is you.... (runs in and tells everyone while leaving Peter outside)

Rhoda: Guys it's Peter he's out...

Everyone: No way...we are praying for him...it can't be him.

Peter: Knock, Knock, Knock

Rhoda: No really it's him...he's really at the door

Everyone: No it's just his angel it can't be him

Peter: Knock, Knock, Knock...(thinks to himself...what the hecks wrong with these people?)

Rhoda: Really, it is him.

Peter: Knock, Knock, Knock

What is it about the lack of faith? Even when their prayers were answered they still didn't believe it was true. The funniest line here: All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away

I wonder what he was thinking while he was out there. Knocking away at the door.

My Prayer - Father, help me to realize when you answer my prayers and not doubt when it is there knocking at my door.