Acts 12:12
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 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.
After an angel freed him from prison where Herod held him under sentence of death, Peter went straight to the Jerusalem home of Mary the mother of John Mark, where many believers were gathered earnestly praying for him. Herod Agrippa, ruling Judea under Claudius to win favor with the Jews, had already executed James the brother of John with the sword and then seized Peter to please them further. God rescued His faithful servant because his work was not yet done, sending His angel with light to waken him, loose his chains, open the prison doors, and set him free. Their prayers were answered with deliverance that filled them with joy and praise, yet astonished them when they heard his voice at the gate, for they had expected he must die like James. Mary's house was such a welcoming refuge for rest from persecution that Mark later left missionary labor to return to its comfort and safety.
Setting and Miraculous Deliverance
The government of Judea was in the hands of Herod Agrippa, subject to Claudius the Roman emperor, and Herod also held the tetrarchy of Galilee. He was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith and apparently very zealous for the ceremonies of the Jewish law, and desiring the favor of the Jews in order to secure his offices and honors he vexed the church of Christ by spoiling the houses and goods of believers and imprisoning leading members. He cast James the brother of John into prison and put him to death with the sword, as another Herod had caused the prophet John to be beheaded, and when he saw that the Jews were pleased he imprisoned Peter also. Herod imprisoned Peter intending to put him to death after having James killed, but God sent an angel to rescue Peter because he still had work to do. Herod later died under God's judgment while exalting himself before a multitude.
God employs angels to communicate with human beings. Peter's deliverance shows that God sends His angels to be powerful helpers of His chosen messengers, and that angels are guides to God's messengers on earth. Instruction is often given to men by immortal messengers so that they are taught of God.
God cared for His faithful servant and for the true and faithful, and took the prey from the enemy who had determined to destroy him. He sent His angel to awaken Peter with light, to loose his bands, to open the prison and its doors, and to set him free. After Peter was miraculously freed from prison he went to Mary's house, where many believers had gathered to pray.
House of Prayer and Refuge
Mary the mother of John Mark was a Christian, and her home in Jerusalem is the house spoken of in the verse. Her home welcomed the disciples as a refuge where they could gather and find rest and recovery from the persecutions they faced in their work.
At that very time many believers were gathered together in Mary's house earnestly praying for Peter while he lay in prison under sentence of death. After his release from prison Peter went directly to Mary's house.
Answered Prayer and Lessons
The praying company gathered in Mary's house had their prayers answered when Peter was delivered from Herod, and their sorrow turned to joy and praise. They had been interceding for him while he lay in prison under sentence of death, yet they still expected he would have to suffer death like James who had just been beheaded. When the freed Peter came to them and they heard his voice at the gate they were astonished, showing prayer answered beyond their faith.
Mark was present in his mother's home when he offered to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey. That home in Jerusalem was the welcoming refuge where the disciples gathered to pray and found rest from persecution in their work. It was during a visit there that Mark proposed joining them. His later choice to leave the missionary journey was a return to the comfort and safety of that home.
This account of deliverance, in which an angel took the prey from the enemy who had determined to destroy Peter, when read slowly and solemnly makes a vivid and lasting impression on the minds of children and youth. That impression influences character far more than older persons imagine. It shows that youth should be taught how to read and understand the Scriptures by being led from truth to truth, up higher and higher. Scripture is to interpret Scripture as its own educating power.