Open the Gate
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Acts 12:1-14
1. About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon 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, and delivered him 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. 6. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, 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 appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and 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 mantle around you and follow me." 9. And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was 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 to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. 11. And Peter came to himself, and 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 maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate.
We know the family of Herod was not nice (this Herod is the grandson of “the” Herod the Great)! And when Herod saw how his popularity increased upon persecuting other “Christians,” he looked around for some more troublemakers he could arrest and execute—to buy him even more popularity. Isn’t it interesting though that he had Peter so closely guarded—handcuffed to two guards—one on each side, sentries at the door, a total of 16 guards—for one man! And the cell where Peter was being held was in a tower inside a fortress inside a walled city!
What was Herod afraid of? Well I guess his worse fear was realized! I hope you’ll read the entire book of Acts. It reads better than any action/adventure novel you can think of. What an exciting time to be a live! During the time this story takes place the followers of Jesus first were labeled “Christians.” But in that time it was really tough—not like today in America. You literally risked your life by declaring your faith. God blanketed these early Christians with the Holy Spirit to empower them and embolden them. They knew what they were risking! But they simply could not be silent!
There is so much for us to ponder in these verses! Peter was scheduled for execution the following morning. Yet he slept soundly. He did not fear death, because he knew without doubt what awaited him! He longed for heaven. But God knew that even Peter might need a little encouragement! And obviously God wasn’t done using Peter—he had a whole world of Gentiles to convert! Peter was re-energized by his miraculous escape! And that energy was surely contagious. In fact, Peter seeks out those who had been praying for him. They needed an answered prayer, too! And God provided one. Dangerous times call for dramatic, unarguable miracles!
So how does all this apply to you and me? Are we like Rhoda—we know the Good News, but we have a hard time living it out? Are we like Herod: we know the truth and are afraid, because we have chosen to live counter to what Jesus has taught us? Or are we like the believers in the Upper Room: praying constantly? My Bible Reader’s Companion suggests that we need to go one step beyond the believers in the upper room. We must “throw open the gate” of our faith, to allow God to fully work in us through the Holy Spirit. We must open our hearts and minds and not limit God because of our own limitations! That’s pretty exciting to think about! Let go. Let God. How much proof do we need that He is far more capable and visionary that we could ever be!?
I hope you’ll spend today letting God work in you, unhindered by your human limitations. Let Go. Let God.
Mary
