response to Rhoda.
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her.
But she kept insisting that it was true,
and they said, “It’s his angel.”
16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door
and saw him, they were amazed.17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent,
he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.
“Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left
and went to another place.
18 At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
seek and celebrate God’s answers to their prayers.
suggest words that describe the church’s response.
Out of your mind
an angel
saw, were amazed
Note that they had an easier time believing in a guardian angel than in an answer to prayer.
sometimes we find it easier to diminish a mighty work of God than to claim it.
the believers’ conclusion that Rhoda may have seen Peter’s angel
was rooted in Jewish tradition, not biblical truth.
Peter’s command was to tell James what happened.
James
Peter specifically identified James as someone who needed to hear about what had happened to him.
Since John’s brother was dead, this James was likely the leader of the Jerusalem church who was also the half-brother of Jesus.
Initially, Jesus’s siblings were skeptics in regard to His claim of being the Messiah.
They doubted Him and thought He might have been a little crazy (Mark 3:20-21; John 7:1-10).
Early on, though, his mother and brothers had joined the apostles
in praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 1:14).
Before long, James had taken on a role of authority in the church in Jerusalem.
His leadership would become clearer at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.
He also is credited with writing the book of James.
the upheaval Peter’s absence created in the prison.
Human leaders may think they are in control, but God holds ultimate power.
He is in control, and He answers His people’s prayers.
So, we can trust Him in every circumstance.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 126 of the Personal Study Guide:
Invite the group to share answered prayers that they still celebrate, whether those answers were recent or in the past.
Lead the group to amen, applaud, or find other ways to celebrate each story shared.
Remind the group of the benefits of fervent corporate prayer.
Refer the group to their copies of the written prayer, make a circle, and recite the prayer aloud together.
During the week, text or email the group to share any pressing needs or answered prayers. Encourage the group to share the news, good or bad, with other believers and to solicit their prayers or their celebration by forwarding the message. (NOTE: Be sensitive to prayer requests that individuals do not wish to share with a larger group.)
Provide copies of the Baptist Hymnal (2008) and direct adults to find Hymn 154,
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Encourage the group to read the first verse and to identify words and ideas that are significant to them.
Allow them to share.
Note that this familiar hymn attests to the kinship we have with Jesus, but it is also a poignant reminder to access God through prayer.
Lead the group to sing the first verse of the hymn together.