Answers

Acts 12
15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

Peter has been placed in prison by Herod. Herod has recently discovered that by persecuting the disciples of Jesus, the Jews rally around him. James the brother of John has been put to death by Herod and now Peter will go on trial.

The Church is earnestly praying for Peter. The night before his trial God answers the prayers of the church by sending an angel to free Peter from prison. Freed,Peter goes to the home where the faithful are gathered and knocks on the door to be let in. Let's examine the response to Peter and the prayers they have been praying.

1. Peter knocks on the door, the servant girl recognizes his voice and goes and tells the others. There reaction? She must be out of her mind. The prayers they have been praying were answered and they did not want to believe it.
2. She insists it's Peter. Their next rationale? It must be his angel. Confronted with her urgency they now explain Peter away as an angel.

The disciples are sitting on answered prayer and continue to act as if their prayer wasn't answered.

Is this how we respond when prayers are not answered the exact way we had in mind? Does this thinking cause us to miss answers to prayers because the prayers are not answered in the time and manner we expect?

Understanding Meaning

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The book of Acts records these words as the last ones spoken by Jesus before he ascended into heaven. Although the apostles and disciples didn't grasp the enormity of his words at the time, the lens of history allows us to see they began a mission that continues on to this day.

Their mission began at Pentecost when the power of the Holy Spirit came down on them just as Jesus said it would. At times they may have needed prodding,or doubted the effectiveness of their efforts, but they continued on.

Acts 2:12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

Jerusalem was was filled with people from many different nations during Pentecost. Nations speaking different languages all gathered in one place. All of these people begin to hear the disciples speak to them in their own languages. Of course they are bewildered and confused wondering what it all meant.

It meant that the words of Jesus came to be. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will receive power. Prior to the Holy Spirit coming, the disciple did not have the power to complete the assigned mission. Going to ends of the earth required the ability to communicate and share the gospel message. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in the tongues of the nations, paving the way fro the gospel to march forward.

"What does this mean?" It means, in that moment it became possible for all people, every tongue and tribe to become followers of Jesus.

Increase our Faith

Luke 17:5
The apostles said to the Lord, "increase our faith!"

The ones closest to Jesus, the ones he invested in the most, realized their need for a growing faith. The teachings of Jesus require increasing amounts of faith. Not because his teachings are outlandish and fictional but because his teaching are counter-intuitive to a me first world.

Me first thinkers never need to apologize or forgive. Me first always places the individuals needs in front of the needs and at the expense of all others. The problem with me first? Only one can be first; and yet so many strive to be first.

The disciples, as they learned and grew in understanding, came to the realization that Jesus and his teachings were radical. Forgiveness was a simple teaching flying in the face of me first living.

The more we know of Jesus and his teachings, the more faith we need. Faith not in ourselves but faith founded in him and his teachings.