Rhoda is only mentioned once in the Word of God. Despite the lack of scriptural detail, she stands as a delightful example of spiritual diligence and persistence. In this she lives up to the meaning of her name – “a rose” – which, as Alexander MacLaren remarked two centuries ago, “has kept its bloom for eighteen hundred years, and is still sweet and fragrant!”
Peter’s Dungeon
Peter had been arrested during the feast of Unleavened Bread and was chained in Herod Agrippa’s most secure dungeon. Herod’s murderous plan was to put Peter on public trial, the result of which would be certain condemnation. The situation certainly looked similar to that of James, who had been beheaded earlier that year (v2). It was no surprise, then, that “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (v5).1 The diligence of God’s people in prayer – perhaps all six days of Unleavened Bread – is a remarkable example to us all. Clearly, they were praying corporately for God’s mercy whenever they could, even through the night (v12). And it wasn’t just a few; “many” were gathered (v12). When urgent, specific prayer requests arise, it is good for assemblies to be willing and ready to gather at short notice to supplicate the Lord.
Not many could have imagined what God would do that night in answer to their prayers. As in the experience of Daniel, though our prayers are heard the moment they are raised (Dan 9:23), they donot always receive an immediate answer. On this occasion, it was the very night before Peter would likely have been martyred.
Peter’s Deliverance
An angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. The angel “smote” (referring to a push or light prod) Peter on the side to wake him just as the chains fell off his wrists. The careful instructions and compassionate guidance of the angel are remarkable – in paraphrase, “Fasten your belt, put on your sandals and coat and follow me!” (vv7-8). No wonder Peter did not fully realise what was happening, even as the iron gate leading to the city opened by itself before he was left alone in the street (v10). Perhaps our priority would be to contact wife, family and nearest relatives, but Peter’s first thought was his spiritual family. Immediately, he went from the company of soldiers to the company of the saints (v12). Peter had set the precedent some time before, when with John, having been released from an audience with the Sanhedrin, “went to their own company” (4:23). It is a fine test of Christian character as to where we seek fellowship and companionship. The Lord Jesus loved the company of “his own” (Joh 13:1).
Rhoda’s Delight
Peter knew where the saints would be – the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. It was clearly a dwelling of some means as it could accommodate “many” saints and had a locked gate into a courtyard that was large enough to contain its own door (v13). Barnabas was part of the extended family and was likewise a wealthy landowner of prime real estate in Cyprus (4:36-37; Col 4:10). As Peter knocked at the door of the gate, Rhoda came to answer. She is referred to as “a damsel,” a word used of someone of servant class (Joh 18:17). Part of her responsibilities was to function as a doorkeeper, a task she attended to with diligence, responding while Peter was still knocking! We do well to be diligent in the work the Lord has given to our hands, even though we might consider it to be rather menial. After all, the Psalmist said, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psa 84:10).
To Rhoda’s great credit, when she heard Peter’s voice, she “knew” it. We live in a world of clamouring voices, and many saints would readily recognise the voice of a celebrity or singer. But do we recognise the voice of the Lord through the Spirit by daily communion with Him?
Rhoda was so overwhelmed with “gladness” that she forgot to open the gate and left Peter standing in the darkness of the street (v14). The irony is not lost: the iron gate of the fortress had opened by itself (v10), but here, the gate of the house where fellow believers were praying for his safety remained shut!
Rhoda’s Diligence
Running in to the prayer meeting, Rhoda “told how Peter stood before the gate” (v14). One wonders if she waited for a brother in full flow to finish before bursting forth her news. With some of our dear brethren, she might have been waiting for some time! She was met with a response which indicated a spirit of unbelief: “Thou art mad” (v15). Had Rhoda taken leave of her senses? Perhaps the saints had not specifically been praying for Peter’s release (more for his protection) or the early Christians did not (rightly) expect miracles every day of the week, but their surprise at the mighty hand of God moving in response to prayer is disappointing. But then, are we any different? We should not seek the Lord’s face in prayer if we do not believe He can and will answer even the most grand and bold of spiritual requests (1Ti 2:8).
Yet this was Rhoda’s finest hour. She did not waver in her conviction. She “constantly affirmed [insisted] that it was even so” (v15). We do well to follow her example, and ever be faithful in standing for truth, even when others seek to belittle us and our convictions. It is especially difficult when believers are doing the criticising.
Avoiding the simple explanation that God had answered prayer, the believers gave an even more bewildering suggestion: “It is his angel,” likely referring to the Jewish belief of a guardian angel. It is sad when people invent explanations which require more faith to believe than the Bible’s plain statements of fact.
Thankfully, Peter “continued knocking.” Presumably, Rhoda was part of the larger company that returned to the gate. When “they” opened the door, the company was “astonished” (amazed) to see Peter. Rhoda’s good news was true – God had delivered Peter! “And he said, Go shew these things …” (v17). We have the even greater news of a miraculous deliverance from the bondage of sin through the work of Christ at Calvary. May God help us all to “go” and proclaim these things to others and do so with the diligence and insistence of a Rhoda.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
