IVP New Testament Commentary Series – The Church Is Astonished (12:12-17)
The Church Is Astonished (12:12-17)

Peter proceeds to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark (12:25; 13:5, 13; 15:37; Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Philem 24; 1 Pet 5:13). From the description of the home's entryway, "door of the gate, gateway, or vestibule," we learn that the house was spacious. Its layout included at least a main building separated from a gatehouse or vestibule by an open court. Whether it was the site of the upper room (1:13) is disputed (E. F. Harrison [1986:203] says perhaps; Marshall [1980:210] says there is no positive evidence). It was probably the gathering place of the house church to which Peter belonged (compare 12:17). At the moment it was serving as the venue for extended fervent prayer for Peter, which evidently included all-night sessions.

In a playful touch of comic irony, which lends realism to the account, Luke relates how a maidservant named Rhoda ("rosebud"), charged with answering the door, is so overcome with joy (Lk 24:41) at the sound of Peter's voice that she leaves him standing there while she rushes in to announce (NIV exclaimed; compare Acts 5:22, 25; 12:17) his arrival. While the church members argue over the truthfulness of her report (Lk 24:22), Peter is left knocking and calling at the door. The very answer to their prayers is knocking, and they do not believe it! They declare Rhoda crazy. When she sticks to her story, they conclude that Peter's guardian angel—who according to their Jewish tradition would take on his attributes—has arrived either to bring good news or to announce Peter's death. Going to investigate, they are "beside themselves in astonishment" when they open the door and see Peter standing there (compare Lk 8:56; 24:22; Acts 2:7, 12; 10:45).

How does God answer prayer? He can do it while we are still praying. We should not receive God's surprises with disbelief but with joy born of expectation, that "blend of confident trust and sanctified imagination" (Ogilvie 1983:204).

Motioning with his hand for silence (13:16; 19:33; 21:40), Peter briefly recounts his rescue in terms of its ultimate source, the Lord, and instructs that James and the brothers be informed of his escape. James the half-brother of Jesus had some form of administrative leadership with the apostles by the mid-thirties (Gal 1:19; 2:9), presided at the Jerusalem Council in A.D. 49 (Acts 15:13) and by the late fifties was head of the Jerusalem church (21:18; Longenecker 1981:410-11; Bruce [1988:239] sees him in a position of undisputed leadership at this point). This is the first reference to him in Acts and may be another indicator of Luke's interest in presenting orderly transitions in the life of the Jerusalem church, showing its continuity even in the face of persecution (8:1; 9:31). Even though Peter must pass off the scene to another place, the church leadership is still in the capable hands of James and the brothers. Though Haenchen (1971:385) thinks brothers simply means "fellow Christians," it is better understood as a reference to church leaders or elders (compare E. F. Harrison 1986:205).

The Lord's deliverance is complete. With this rescue from the king's attack, the church remains unscathed. So today, even when there are changes in personnel, God will superintend the healthy advance of his church.

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