Church Unleashed: Unleashed Participators – Acts 12:1-17 – Rev Andrew Fitzgerald

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“Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

Gavin and Anne Calver, in their book ‘Unleashed’, describe Acts 12 as “one of the most exciting and terrifying moments of Scripture.” And one can see why – Peter experienced the danger of following Jesus together with the wonder of following Jesus in close proximity. But there are two themes of focus in this passage:

1) The participation of Peter in the experiences of Jesus as he was seized, arrested, guarded by soldiers for public trial and welcomed with disbelief by those gathered in the house of Mary; and

2) the participation of God’s people in prayer as they prayed earnestly to God for their brother Peter (Acts 12:5) and not solely but gathered as many (Acts 12:12).

As we consider the participation of Peter in the experiences of Jesus and the participation of God’s people in prayer, how can we do similar? Pick up our cross and follow Jesus? Be baptised, perhaps? Read His Word and join whatever prayer streams or gatherings are available? Because it matters to God, will be a blessing to you and to the church.