“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 .”
My Notes
What Does Acts 12:12 Mean?
"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 the angel releases Peter from prison, Peter CONSIDERS — processes, realizes this is real, thinks about what to do — and goes to MARY'S HOUSE. And at Mary's house: MANY are gathered together PRAYING. The prayer meeting is ONGOING while the miracle is HAPPENING. The church is praying for Peter's release while the release is already in progress. The prayer and the answer are simultaneous.
The phrase "when he had considered the thing" (synidōn — having perceived/become aware/considered) describes Peter's POST-MIRACLE processing: the angel departed (verse 10). Peter is standing in the street. He has to PROCESS what just happened — the chains falling, the angel leading, the gate opening. The considering is the bridge between the MIRACLE and the RESPONSE. The supernatural event requires natural processing.
The "where many were gathered together praying" (hou ēsan hikanoi synēthroismemoi kai proseuchomenoi — where sufficient/many persons had been assembled and were praying) reveals the church's ACTIVITY: the community is gathered at Mary's house, PRAYING — specifically for Peter (verse 5: 'prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him'). The prayer meeting is the church's response to the crisis. And the prayer is being answered WHILE they're praying.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What prayer are you still praying that might already be answered and walking toward your door?
- 2.What does the prayer continuing WHILE the answer is in transit teach about persisting when you don't see results?
- 3.How does the prayer meeting being in a HOUSE (not a Temple) describe where God's power operates?
- 4.What does Peter having to CONSIDER (process the miracle) teach about the gap between experience and response?
Devotional
Peter considers what just happened. He goes to Mary's house. And MANY are gathered there — PRAYING. Praying for HIM. While the miracle was happening, the church was praying. The prayer and the answer overlapped. The praying didn't stop when the chains fell. The church was still asking while God was already acting.
The 'considered the thing' is the HUMAN processing of the DIVINE miracle: Peter has to THINK. The chains fell off. The angel disappeared. The prison gate opened by itself. And now Peter stands in a Jerusalem street, free, in the middle of the night. The considering is the gap between 'that happened' and 'now what?' The miracle needs processing before Peter can make his next decision.
The 'house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark' identifies the LOCATION as a HOUSE CHURCH: Mary's home is where the church GATHERS. The prayer meeting happens in a PRIVATE HOME — not the Temple, not a synagogue, but a house. The early church meets where people LIVE. The prayer that produced the miracle happened in a living room. The power wasn't in the location. It was in the gathering and the praying.
The 'many gathered together praying' reveals the OVERLAP between prayer and answer: the church is praying for Peter's release — and Peter has ALREADY BEEN RELEASED. The prayer continued WHILE the answer was in transit. The church didn't know the miracle had happened. They were STILL ASKING while Peter was walking to their door. The knocking on the gate (verse 13) is the ANSWERED PRAYER arriving at the PRAYER MEETING.
What prayer meeting are you attending — and might the answer already be walking toward the door?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And when he had considered the thing,.... The whole of the salvation wrought for him; or rather, where he should go, to…
And when he had considered ... - Thinking on the subject; considering what he should do in these circumstances. He came…
And when he had considered - When he had weighed every thing, and was fully satisfied of the Divine interposition, he…
We have here an account of Peter's deliverance out of prison, by which the design of Herod against him was defeated, and…
And when he had considered the thing Rather, "when he comprehended it." At first he had been "like them that dream" (Psa…
Cross References
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