Tuesday, February 21, 2023

A Damsel Named Rhoda - Acts 12:13

Luke the physician wrote how Peter, “was kept in prison”, and after an angel led him out, “Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared about, “a damsel … named Rhoda” where we read:

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

The verse begins, “And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, ... Luke began with the words, “and as Peter” which means “and during the time and while Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and was one of Jesus' disciples” “knocked at the door” or “rapped upon the vestibule, entryway or passage” “of the gate” which means “belonging to the large part of the entry porch of the house”. Luke shared how “Peter” began to “rap” upon the “door” at the “entryway” of the house.

The verse continues, “... a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. Luke added the words, “a damsel came to hearken” which means “a young girl or female servant arose and appeared to listen to the knocking”, “named Rhoda” or “who was called or known as Rhoda whose name means rose”. Luke shared how a young maiden known as “Rhoda” came to listen to Peter's rapping upon the door to the gate.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” began to “rap” upon the “door of the entry gate” that was located in the front of “Mary's” home. A young maiden named “Rhoda” “heard” the noise and went to listen to it more carefully. Step by step God's plan for saving “Peter” was being fulfilled, and this young girl would be a part of his story as well. God loves people, and He desires to “save” every one of them from the penalty for sins which is death through a relationship with His Son Jesus. Anyone who yields to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise will see this rescue of “Peter” as a beautiful example of God's desire to “save” everyone.

Next time Luke shares about, “when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".







 

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