Acts 12:14
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
Rhoda recognized Peter's voice at the gate of the house where the believers were gathered in earnest prayer for him, and in overwhelming joy she ran inside to announce him instead of opening the gate and leaving him standing outside. Those inside were astonished and at first did not believe her report that he had been delivered, for though they had prayed they expected he would die for the truth. His arrival brought them joy and praise because God had heard and answered their prayers by freeing him from prison and from the hands of Herod, sending His angel to waken him, loose his chains, fill the prison with light, and open the doors and lead him out. The deliverance shows God's care for the true and faithful, whom He rescues by sending messengers from heaven as powerful helpers and guides to teach and instruct His chosen servants.
Rhoda at the Prayer Gate
The setting is the persecution by Herod Agrippa, tetrarch of Galilee and ruler of Judea under Claudius the Roman emperor, who professed to be a proselyte to the Jewish faith and was zealous for the ceremonies of the Jewish law. Seeking the favor of the Jews to secure his offices and honors, he vexed the church by spoiling the houses and goods of believers and imprisoning leading members. He cast James the brother of John into prison and killed him with the sword, as another Herod had beheaded John, and then imprisoned Peter also when he saw the Jews were pleased. After his release Peter went at once to the house where his brethren were assembled and at that very moment engaged in earnest prayer for him, and Rhoda came to listen at the gate door.
She knew and recognized Peter's voice at the gate. Overwhelmed with joy and gladness she left him standing outside before the gate and ran inside to tell the praying believers that he was there, instead of opening the gate for him. Her gladness made her leave him standing outside and run inside to tell that he was there.
Her report announced that Peter had been delivered from prison. The believers initially did not believe her. They were astonished at hearing his voice, because although they had prayed for him they expected he would suffer death for the truth. His arrival brought the believers joy, amazement and praise, because God had heard their prayers and delivered him from prison and from the hands of Herod.
Angel Deliverance and Care
Acts 12:14 belongs to Peter's miraculous release from prison, in which God sent His angel to free him and to take the prey from the enemy who had determined to destroy him. The angel wakened him, loosed his bands, filled the prison with light, opened the prison doors and gates, and woke and led the prisoner out to set His servant free. It was after that deliverance that Peter came to the house where the believers were gathered, and the joy and amazement of the girl who recognized his voice at the gate and hurried to announce that he was there belong to that same account.
The incident at the gate proves that God heard and answered prayer by delivering Peter from the hands of Herod. He went at once after his release to the house where his brethren were assembled and at that very moment engaged in earnest prayer for him. Their gladness at his voice filled their hearts with joy and praise because God had heard them and set him free.
The verse shows that God has care for the true and faithful and answers prayer by sending messengers from heaven to deliver them. Peter's experience in Acts 12 shows that God employs angels to communicate with human beings and sends His angels as powerful helpers and guides to His chosen messengers. In this way He teaches and instructs men who are taught of God.
The narrative of Peter's deliverance, when read slowly and solemnly, makes an impression on the minds of children and youth that remains vivid and influences character in far greater degree than older persons imagine.