When the Church Prays
[ READ ] Acts 12:1-17
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put 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 followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, 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 brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put 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 followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, 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 brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
This is a passage about the power of prayer. This is Peter’s third imprisonment, coming after the execution of James. In John 21:18-19, we see that Jesus prophesied the martyrdom Peter would face for the sake of the Gospel. If I were Peter, I would believe and say to myself, “This is it, there is no way I am getting out of this one alive”. Prayer changes things. Verse 5 talks about how the church community bound together in “earnest prayer”. Luke uses the word ektenōs to describe the prayer. This is the same word used to describe Jesus’ prayer in the garden at Gethsemane. The very same prayer that caused Jesus to sweat blood (Luke 22:44). The intensity that type of prayer carries is something I have yet to pursue the Lord with in my life, and I pray I find the strength to petition God in the same manner. I pray we as a community find that strength. Imagine a world where the Body of Christ saw a need and responded by coming together and praying and waiting. If Peter was released miraculously due to the power of prayer; imagine what He can do in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, the U.S., even the world.
Now it's time to talk about our blind spots. We may spend time in this sincere, heavy, and intimate prayer over very real struggles and hardships in our lives. We must still listen and observe for His answer. We see in verses 13-16 that the community didn’t even believe it when the answer to their prayer arrived. They respond with more of a “no way, you’re crazy” than a “maybe this is the answer we are looking for”. Oh, how often this chapter of my testimony has repeated itself. Many times when we petition God, we only look for the answer in the way we are expecting, but God doesn’t operate on our logic or ideas of the way things “ought” to be. His answers require us to humble ourselves, sit, trust, and listen for Him. I encourage all of us to look with an open heart to the answers God has already given us, but we often too easily say “you are out of your mind."
- Quentin Parker
Now it's time to talk about our blind spots. We may spend time in this sincere, heavy, and intimate prayer over very real struggles and hardships in our lives. We must still listen and observe for His answer. We see in verses 13-16 that the community didn’t even believe it when the answer to their prayer arrived. They respond with more of a “no way, you’re crazy” than a “maybe this is the answer we are looking for”. Oh, how often this chapter of my testimony has repeated itself. Many times when we petition God, we only look for the answer in the way we are expecting, but God doesn’t operate on our logic or ideas of the way things “ought” to be. His answers require us to humble ourselves, sit, trust, and listen for Him. I encourage all of us to look with an open heart to the answers God has already given us, but we often too easily say “you are out of your mind."
- Quentin Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think Peter waits until after his complete freedom in verse 11 before acknowledging God’s answer for him?
+ Why do you think Peter waits until after his complete freedom in verse 11 before acknowledging God’s answer for him?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life do you need earnest prayer?
+ What thing in your life are you saying “you're out of your mind” to what God may be trying to speak to you?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life do you need earnest prayer?
+ What thing in your life are you saying “you're out of your mind” to what God may be trying to speak to you?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for this day and your provision. Open my eyes to the answers you are giving me, and blessings you are providing. God, thank you for the people praying for us even when we do not see it, may we find the strength to petition on behalf of Your people. Thank you for the opportunity to love more like you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for this day and your provision. Open my eyes to the answers you are giving me, and blessings you are providing. God, thank you for the people praying for us even when we do not see it, may we find the strength to petition on behalf of Your people. Thank you for the opportunity to love more like you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who can you share the Gospel with this week?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who can you share the Gospel with this week?
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