Acts 11, 12, 13

Acts 11, 12, 13

Overview:  The Jerusalem church discusses the inclusion of Gentiles with Peter following his experience with Cornelius.  Peter is put in prison and then helped to escape by an angel.  Paul and Barnabas preach and teach.

The story in Acts 12 is one of my favorites in all of Scripture.  A great story about the real power of prayer and about the expectations we bring to prayer.  Peter is in prison.  Followers of the Way are gathered in a home praying for his release.  An angel is sent to aid Peter in escaping from prison.  Peter makes good on leaving the prison and heads for the home where the folks are locked up inside praying for his release.  He knocks on the door.  A servant girl, Rhoda, answers.  Rhoda runs and tells the people that Peter is at the door - in essence she runs and tells them, "Your prayers are answered."  The response of the assembled prayer group of believers?  "You are out of your mind."(12:15)  This story always draws me in.  It makes me laugh and then it makes me examine once again how much more seriously I need to value the power of prayer.  The people pray.  They love God.  They love Peter.  They want Peter out of prison and they are talking to God about getting Peter out of prison.  But they are shocked beyond belief and reason when the prayer actually works.  We are called to prayer; this passage pushes us a bit farther to the point where we are to pray as though we believe it may work.  Pray expectantly and wait for the knock that can't come at the door as though it may come at any moment - such is the power of God.