Acts 12:1-17 ESV
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. [2] He killed James the brother of John with the sword, [3] and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. [4] And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. [5] So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. [6] Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. [7] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. [8] And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” [9] And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. [10] When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. [11] When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” [12] When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. [13] And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. [14] Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. [15] They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” [16] But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. [17] But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

Prayer is key! When life turns upside down, we tend to look for a solution elsewhere, ignoring the power of prayer. Often, prayer is the last thing so many of us do when stuff happens, but it should be the first and automatic response to every strike of life. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we must pray constantly and continuously.
When a problem seems to be hopeless, some people think there is no use to pray. Others give up after they have prayed once or twice. We think God either can’t hear or won’t answer us, so we forgo uttering those few words of prayer but according to Daniel 9:23, God not only hears but answers as soon as we’ve uttered our prayers.
How many times have we prayed, expecting the Lord to answer us in we want and ignore every sign that points to a different answer from what we want? I don’t know what the brethren in our text were expecting when they gathered to pray for Peter’s deliverance, but to know recognise and accept the answer to their prayer is something we all do so well.
Peter was in a serious situation. There was no earthly help for him. There was no law and no lawyer to have him freed. But there were some of his friends who were praying. The disciples gathered at the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. There they prayed without ceasing for Peter. No doubt, day and night, all the time he was imprisoned, prayers were offered on his behalf. The days went by, and Peter was still in prison. The night before Peter was to be brought before the people for trial as he slept, chained between two soldiers, there was suddenly light in the prison, and the angel of the Lord appeared. Peter thought he was seeing a vision, but he did as the angel told him. He arose, put on his shoes and coat and followed the angel. They went past all the wards, the outside gate opened of its own accord. The Angel left him after they passed through the iron gate, leading to the city.
Peter had been delivered from prison. Not by a lawyer or any man because God had sent an angel to perform this miracle.
When Peter knocked at the door, Rhoda opened the door, so excited and happy that she forgot to open the door to let Peter in. Rhoda went to tell the others. They had prayed for Peter many days without ceasing. When their prayer was answered and he was delivered, it seemed too good to be true. They could scarcely believe that it was Peter who continued to knock outside the door. When they saw him, they were astonished?
Picture Elijah praying for fire in 1 Kings 18 and not believing when the fire fell from heaven.
Jesus said in John 14:13 that He will give us WHATEVER we ask! So, how come we ask one thing and expect another or worse, we don’t expect anything when Proverbs 23:18 already promises that our expectations will be met and won’t be cut off.
Have you been praying for a specific need? Keep thanking the Lord, for He will surely answer. He sent an Angel for Peter; we will send one for you. Just keep praying without ceasing! He heard and will answer.
Shalom