Scripture Daily

Context No. 4290 of 4322 · Acts

Context · Reflection

Acts 12:15-19: in context

15They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

The church is gathered, praying earnestly for Peter, who is in prison awaiting execution. God answers dramatically, sending an angel to free him, and Peter comes and knocks at the door. But when the servant girl Rhoda announces that Peter is at the gate, the praying believers do not believe her: You are out of your mind, they say. It must be his angel. They had prayed, yet they could scarcely believe God had answered.

What stands out, almost with a touch of humor, is the gap between their praying and their believing. They were earnestly asking God to help Peter, yet when the answer stood knocking at the door, they dismissed it as impossible. Their faith was real enough to pray, but not strong enough to expect that God would actually do it. And yet God answered anyway, beyond the reach of their wavering faith.

We ask God for things, and yet a part of us hardly believes he will act; when he does, we are astonished, as if it could not really be. But God is gracious to answer beyond our small faith. He did not withhold Peter's rescue because the church could scarcely believe it; he answered their prayers despite their unbelief. Our wavering faith does not tie God's hands; he is able to do more than we expect.

When I pray yet can scarcely believe God will act, do I take heart that he answers beyond my weak and wavering faith, as he freed Peter while the praying church stood in disbelief, so that my small faith does not tie the hands of the God who does more than I expect?

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