Summer Devotional:
​No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts

Day 24 – June 30th, 2021
Read Acts 12:1-19a

Helpful Background
I have always loved Peter. Peter was always impetuous; speaking when he should have been quiet, acting when he should have just listened ... Peter basically opened his mouth to change whichever foot happened to be in it at the time. Basically, Peter was like us.
In Acts 5, he had been told, ordered by the Jewish leadership (the Sanhedrin) to stop speaking about Jesus. Impetuous Peter refused and got himself arrested, more than once. In Acts chapter 12, we find Peter being arrested once again. The Church was praying for Peter and God was about to answer their prayers in a remarkable way. Peter was sleeping between the two guards he had been chained to when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and set Peter free. Then the angel walked Peter out of the prison and onto the city street.  
Aware of what had happened to him, Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where the early Church had gathered to pray for Peter’s release. Peter knocked on the door and Rhoda, the servant girl ran to tell everyone that their prayers had been answered, Peter was standing at the door.  
I guess the news sounded too good to be true because everyone at the prayer vigil told Rhoda that she had to be imagining it. Poor Peter had to keep on knocking on the door to finally get let in.  
Peter finally got their attention and told the prayer group to make sure the Church leaders knew what had happened and then Peter left, probably to ensure the safety of these followers.

Questions - Are you like those praying at Mary’s home?  Do you ever find it had to believe that God wants to bless you, will do these great things for you?  I pray that this passage of Scripture will always remind us that God always hears our prayers, always.  And that because he loves us so much, God will always do the right thing.​

Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.​

For more background information & study questions on the Book of Acts, check out Brian Ralston's handouts here.