Acts 12:12–17

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. Observe how Peter does not immediately withdraw, but first brings the good tidings to his friends.

And when he had considered, it says: viz. where he was, or, that he must not without more ado depart but requite his Benefactor: he came to the house of Mary the mother of John. Who is this John? Probably he that was always with them: for this is why he adds his distinctive name, "whose surname was Mark." But observe, "praying" in the night, how much they got by it: what a good thing affliction is; how wakeful it made them! Do you see how great the gain resulting from the death of Stephen? do you see how great the benefit accruing from this imprisonment? For it is not by taking vengeance upon those who wronged them that God shows the greatness of the Gospel: but in the wrong-doers themselves, without any harm happening to those, he shows what a mighty thing the afflictions in themselves are, that we may not seek in any wise deliverance from them, nor the avenging of our wrongs.

And when he had considered, he came to the house of Mary. Then let us not hide God's marvels, but for our own good let us study to display these abroad for the edifying of the others. For as he deserves to be admired for choosing to be put into bonds, so is he worthy of more admiration, that he withdrew not until he had reported all to his friends.

What does "Realizing this [συνιδών]" mean? That one must not merely depart, but repay the benefactor. [CHRYSOSTOM]

"who was called Mark." In order to show that he does not mean John, who was always with them, he names his mother and gives his distinguishing nickname, for he says, "who was called Mark." This man was the same who wrote the Gospel according to Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, concerning whom Paul writes to Timothy: "Take Mark and bring him with you when you come, for he is useful to me for ministry." (2 Tim. 4:11)

This also the presbyter [John] said: Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.

Upon reflection, he saw that he should not simply continue on his way, but rather give thanks to the Benefactor.

This John was perhaps not the one who constantly remained with the apostles. That is why the writer added his distinguishing name, since he said: "who was called Mark." Perhaps this is Mark the Evangelist, through whom, they say, Peter transmitted his Gospel, since the Gospel of Mark is said to be Peter's Gospel. This supposition is justified by the fact that Peter and the other apostles spent a considerable amount of time at his house.

The girl came out to hear. And the Lord, having come forth from the constraints of the tomb, was first announced to the disciples by a woman, so that where sin abounded, grace might more abound.

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness. Mark even the servant-girls, how full of piety they are. But ran in, just as we are wont to do, she was eager to be herself the bringer of the good tidings, for good news it was indeed.

And mark how the very servant-girls were henceforth upon an equality with them. "For joy," it says, "she opened not." This too is well done, that they likewise may not be amazed by seeing him at once, and that they may be incredulous, and their minds may be exercised.

He who had brought me up, sold me to one Rhode in Rome.

Notice the reverence of the servant girl: "from joy," it says, "she did not open." But this turned out beautifully, for otherwise the rest, astonished by his unexpected appearance, would perhaps not have believed that it was he, since even as it was they did not want to believe.

But they were saying, "It is his angel." That each of us has an angel is found both in the book of the Shepherd and in many places of the Holy Scriptures. For the Lord also speaks of the little ones: "Their angels always see the face of my Father" (Matt. XVIII). And Jacob speaks of himself: "The angel who redeemed me from all evil." And here the disciples believed that the angel of the apostle Peter had come.

archangels are entrusted with the administration and guardianship of particular nations and kingdoms: Yea, even that an angel attends each man as his guardian; as when the church says concerning Peter in Acts: It is his angel. The Lord likewise in the Gospels exclaims: For their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven; thus plainly showing that each one of us has his angel, evidently as his guide and his guardian

And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel. This is a truth, that each man has an Angel. It was from the time of night that they surmised this.

And they said unto her, Thou art mad: but she constantly affirmed that it was even so: then said they, It is his Angel. And what would the Angel? It was from the time of night that they surmised this.

"It is his angel." From this it is clear that each one of us has an angel. But they expected this from the time. For he says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matt. 18:20) Where Christ is, there must be angels as well, and all the powers.

Thus, too, does the angel, the witness of baptism, "make the paths straight" for the Holy Spirit, who is about to come upon us, by the washing away of sins, which faith, sealed in (the name of) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, obtains.

This is correct, because everyone has an Angel. With every believer in the Lord an Angel constantly abides, unless we drive him away by evil deeds, for just as smoke causes bees to depart and as a foul smell drives away doves, so the stinking and much-tear-causing sin distances the Angel from us. And they expected that it was an Angel, reasoning according to their situation, because it is said: "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). And where Christ is, there the Archangels and the other powers must necessarily be as well.

Immediately, free from the enemy, he sings the praises of God's work. The first girl demonstrates that he has come back from the darkness because the grace of Christ allowed a similar thing to be, inasmuch as the Lord himself, rising [from the dead], approached the sight of women; the glory of his returning flesh spoke to the sex that his mother has. It is clear from this also that the church, which must carry unrestrained gladness to every flock, recognized its prophet [Peter].

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

But when he continued knocking, and when they had opened, and saw him, they were astonished. But he beckoning to them with his hand made them keep quiet, to hear all that had happened to him. He was now an object of more affectionate desire to the disciples, not only in consequence of his being saved, but by his sudden coming in upon them and straightway departing. Now, both his friends learn all clearly; and the aliens also learn, if they had a mind, but they had not. The same thing happened in the case of Christ. "Tell these things," he says, "to James, and to the brethren." How free from all vainglory! Nor did he say, Make known these things to people everywhere, but, "to the brethren. And he withdrew to another place:" for he did not tempt God, nor fling himself into temptation: since, when they were commanded to do this, then they did it. "Go," it was said, "speak in the temple to the people." But this the Angel said not here; on the contrary, by silently removing him and bringing him out by night, he gave him free permission to withdraw - and this too is done, that we may learn that many things are providentially brought about after the manner of men - so that he should not again fall into peril.

And he said, Tell James and the brethren. That they may rejoice: that they may not be anxious. Through these those learn, not those through him: such thought had he for the humbler part!

For that they may not say, "It was his Angel," after he was gone, they say this first, and then they see himself overthrowing their notion of the matter. Had it been the Angel, he would have knocked at the door, would not have retired to another place. And what followed in the day, make them sure.

"And Peter, departed and went to another place." For he was not testing God. It would, however, have been possible for God at the same time to snatch away the guards. But if this were so, it would have been thought an escape. For rather it grieved him to be mocked, just like the time that his grandfather was made to look ridiculous by the magi. (see Matt. 2:16) [Why, then, are flatterers not also punished? Both were worthy of punishment. But since there is no time for judgment, the most responsible is punished.] [CHRYSOSTOM]

How free from vainglory he is! He did not say "make it known everywhere," but rather "notify... the brethren."

He went out and went to another place because he did not want to test God and lead himself into temptations. The Angel did not tell him about this; but by the fact that he left him in silence and led him out of the prison by night, he gave him permission to withdraw, since the apostles had already done what they had been commanded — to go to the temple and preach to the people.