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 as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 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 they said unto her, you are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished”, and in chapter twelve and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter beckons the people in the house to, “hold their peace” where we read:
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
The verse begins, “But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.” Luke began with the words, “But he” which means “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover Peter”, “beckoning unto them with the hand” or “signaling to the people within Mary's home by using his physical hand” “to hold their peace” which means “to keep their silence and be quiet”, “declared unto them” or “set forth, recounted, related in full and described to the people within Mary's home” “how the Lord” which means “the manner in which the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “had brought him out of the prison” or “delivered and rescued him, Peter, from the place where captives are kept”. Luke shared how “Peter” signaled to the people within “Mary's home” to be quiet, and he told them how the “Lord” rescued and delivered him from the “prison”.
The verse goes on to say, “And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.” Luke continued with the words, “and he said” which means “and Peter uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Go show these things” or “depart and bring tidings, word and report of the things that happened to him” “unto James” which means “to James whose name means supplanter and was the half brother to Jesus”, “and to the brethren” or “and toward the fellow believers, students, pupils and attendants of Jesus”. “And he departed” which means “and Peter left”, “and went into another place” or “and traveled or journeyed to another location”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the people within “Mary's home” to broadcast the news to Jesus' brother “James” and the other disciples about what happened to him. Afterward he left Mary's home and traveled to another location.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” did not want the people within “Mary's home” to be loudly celebrate his return, and he disclosed to them the manner in which the “Lord” delivered him from the “prison”. He instructed them to tell Jesus' brother “James” and the other disciples what happened, and He left “Mary's home” to travel to another location. Wisdom was employed not only in the silence of those within Mary's home, but also in disclosing to them God's deliverance and how to inform others about what happened. “Peter” did not stay in “Mary's home”, and he journeyed to another place. God rescued “Peter”, and He gave him the wisdom to follow through on His deliverance. God was at work, and the news of His “gospel of salvation” through His Son Jesus was to continue. Those who yield themselves to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Anyone who carefully examines these events will discover God's intentional efforts to share His “salvation”, and when people surrender to Him, they will have escaped the greatest “prison” of all – the “prison” of sin and death.
Next time Luke shares how, “there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter”, 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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