“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!'”
Acts 12:13-14
Tucked into the story of Peter’s miraculous prison escape is the brief mention of a servant girl named Rhoda. Her only recorded act is of her forgetting to open the locked door where Peter stood. Even so, there are a couple of important details for us to note.
First, though she was not a family member at the home of John Mark’s mother (v. 12), Rhoda absorbed what she saw and heard while she worked. She clearly was sympathetic to the family’s beliefs and those of the gathered church members praying there into the night. As they ardently begged the Lord to free Peter, she recognized Peter’s voice and knew with certainty that it was he knocking at the door. Those in the house couldn’t believe it would be true. But Rhoda knew it was so without even seeing.
Secondly, not only did she know it was Peter, she also was overjoyed about it! Her utter confidence in the Lord’s answered prayer manifested itself in pure joy. Sometimes the Lord’s provision may seem too good to be true. Trust that He is our mighty Savior who has broken our chains and set us free!
First, though she was not a family member at the home of John Mark’s mother (v. 12), Rhoda absorbed what she saw and heard while she worked. She clearly was sympathetic to the family’s beliefs and those of the gathered church members praying there into the night. As they ardently begged the Lord to free Peter, she recognized Peter’s voice and knew with certainty that it was he knocking at the door. Those in the house couldn’t believe it would be true. But Rhoda knew it was so without even seeing.
Secondly, not only did she know it was Peter, she also was overjoyed about it! Her utter confidence in the Lord’s answered prayer manifested itself in pure joy. Sometimes the Lord’s provision may seem too good to be true. Trust that He is our mighty Savior who has broken our chains and set us free!
Scripture Focus
Acts 12:1-19
Insight
Dear Jesus, make me like Rhoda. And give me a burning desire to share Your story with everyone I meet today. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 49-50
- Psalm 25
- Mark 5
