Mary, mother of John Mark

Even though he still thinks it's a vision, he listens to the angel and, and he obeys the angel, and watch what happens in verse 12.

It says, "When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it." And this is funny, y'all.

Listen.

Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Peter knocked at the outer entrance and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.

When she recognised Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed, she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, Peter's at the door! You're out of your mind, they told her.

The third thing we see in this passage is your prayers don't have to be perfect.

They're earnestly praying to God, it says.

On the night itself, there's a group of them that actually gather at the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people are gathered and praying.

Peter turns up at the door.

When Peter realized this, in other words, when he realized it wasn't a dream, he really was free.

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where there were many gathered together and were praying.

And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant named Rhoda came to answer.

Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy, she did not open the gate, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

Then he departed and went to another place.

Now, this passage tells us a couple things about Mark and his life.

Peter goes to Mary's house.

Now, there were a lot of women named Mary in the New Testament.

Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.

As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.

When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

What happens next? Go to Acts 12:12.

"When he realized this," that is, Peter realized he'd been delivered from prison, "he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

He knocked at the door of the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.

When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed.

What happens next? Go to Acts 12 verse 12.

When he realized this, that is Peter realized he'd been delivered from prison, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

He knocked at the door of the gate and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.

When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed.

The early church has been about prayer since its inception.

Leading up to the day of Pentecost, the 12 disciples in Acts 1.14 says, "...these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Acts 20, 40 through 47 says that, as he describes the characteristics of the early church, says that they continued steadfastly in prayer.

In Acts chapter four, when the first arrest and release of the apostles happened, they responded in prayer, praying for boldness to continue to proclaim the gospel.

And in Acts chapter six, the 12 apostles declared, we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

I have to tell them.

So in verse 12, we read, Look with me at your verses because I didn't put this one up either.

So when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.

And as Peter knocked at the door, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.