Acts 12:13

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. AND AS PETER - rather, 'as he' (according to the better reading) KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE, A DAMSEL CAME TO HEARKEN - not to open (for neither was this a time, nor an hour of the night, for that) but to listen who was there. The word [ hupakouoo (G5219)] signifies to answer a knock at the door. NAMED RHODA. With a charming simplicity the name of this girl is recorded-familiar, probably, at the time among the disciples at Jerusalem as the person who played so important a part in this scene, and here preserved for all time to her honour....

12-19 God's providence leaves room for the use of our prudence, though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has begun. These Christians continued in prayer for Peter, for they were truly in earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a mercy, we must continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe. The Christian law of self-denial and of suffering for Christ, has not done away the natural law of caring for our own safety by lawful means. In times of public danger, all believers have God for their hiding-place; which is so secret, that the world cannot find them. Also, the instruments of persecution are themselves exposed to danger; the wrath of God hangs over all that engage in this hateful work. And the range of persecutors often vents itself on all in its way....

Verse Acts 12:13. _AS PETER KNOCKED_] The door was probably shut for fear of the Jews; and, as most of the houses in the east have an area before the door, it might have been at this outer gate that Peter stood knocking. _A DAMSEL CAME TO HEARKEN, NAMED RHODA._] She came to inquire who was there. Rhoda signifies a _rose_; and it appears to have been customary with he Jews, as Grotius and others remark, to give the names of flowers and trees to their daughters: thus _Susannah_ signifies a _lily, Hadassah_, a _myrtle, Tamar_, a _palm tree_, c., c....

AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE - Rather the door of the vestibule, or principal entrance into the house. The house was entered through such a porch or vestibule, and it was the door opening into this which is here intended. See the notes on Matthew 9:2. A DAMSEL - A girl. CAME TO HEARKEN - To hear who was there. NAMED RHODA - This is a Greek name signifying a rose. It was not unusual for the Hebrews to give the names of flowers, etc., to their daughters. Thus, Susanna, a lily; Hadessa, a myrtle; Tamar, a palm-tree, etc. (Grotius)....

EXPOSITION ACTS 12:1 _Put _for _stretched, _A.V.;_ afflict _for _vex, _A.V. The phrase, ABOUT THAT TIME, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20 and Acts 12:25 evidently implies that the bulk or rather the chief of the events narrated happened in the interval. Which of the events was the chief in the mind of the narrator with reference to his general narrative, and what are the coincidences which he wished to note, it is not easy to say with certainty. The narrative in this c

AND AS PETER KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE, c. The lesser door in the great gate, or the door of the porch through which they entered into the house. So the Jews distinguish between פתח, "the door", and שער, "the gate" see Judges 18:16 where the Septuagint use the same words as here. Kimchi h says, "xtp, "the door" is what is of the gate, without the folding doors; for all is called שער, "the gate", whether within or without, with the folding doors, and the outward threshold, as that is joined to the side posts and lintel.'' The door was kept shut, for fear of the Jews, lest they should be disturbed: here Peter stood and knocked: A DAMSEL CAME TO HEARKEN; hearing a knocking, she came out to the door, and listened, to try if she could know who it was, a friend or a foe, before she opened; or she came "to answer", as the Syriac versio

ACTS 12:13 prosh/lqen Instead of prosh/lqen a few witnesses (a B2 3 itp vg) read proh/lqen, “she came forward” (i.e. from the house itself, to answer the knock at the gate)....

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The great Persecution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1)._ 2. The miraculous deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:6). 3. The Presumption and Judgment of Herod (Acts 12:18). 4. Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem (Acts 12:24). With this chapter we reach the conclusion of the second part of this book. Jerusalem had heard the second offer concerning the Kingdom, and mercy was ready even for the murderers of the Prince of Life. But that offer was rejected. Stephen's testimony followed by his martyrdom marked the close of that second offer to the city where our Lord had been crucified. Then broke out a great p

PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH BY HEROD AGRIPPA. PETER'S ESCAPE FROM PRISON. On Agrippa, see p. 610. His persecution of the Christians was according to his general policy. The persecutions of the faithful have been hitherto from the Jews acting through their local courts or the Sanhedrin. Now there is a civil ruler, also a Jew, minded to injure them, and persecution becomes more deadly. ACTS 12:1. ABOUT THAT TIME: this must be before the death of Herod in A.D. 44; it must be after Paul's visit to Jerusalem in Galatians 2:1; Acts 11:30, for he found James and Peter and John there. [98] James the brother of the Lord is spoken of by Paul under that title in...

IMPRISONMENT AND DELIVERANCE (Acts 12:1-11)...