"A Girl Named Rhoda"

So, when he 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 of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It was an angel." Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Acts 12:12-17

Back in verse 5 it tells us that Peter was kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. God sends an angel, Peter is released and ends up here, knocking on the door.  I think its pretty interesting to note that Peter thought it was a dream and didn't even realize it was actually taking place at the time as well as the fact that the people who had been praying on Peter's behalf had to be convinced that it was really Peter at the door. It almost seems as though no one really thought that God would answer their prayers. Well, all but one.

For me, Rhoda is the hero of faith in this encounter! She not only recognizes the voice as Peter's, but immediately runs to tell everyone that their prayers have been answered and Peter is at the gate! When no one believed her, she insisted and kept on insisting. She didn't let anyone talk her out of what she knew to be the truth! In verse 14 it tells us that the reason she left Peter standing there was 'because of her gladness.' Some people might view this as silly or find it amusing that she left him standing at the gate. I think that her response when she realized it was Peter and the joy she felt when she understood that God had heard their prayers is how we all should react! I love that she was so excited that she forgot to stop long enough to let Peter in!