Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 12:16

"But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed." — Acts 12:16 (ASV)

Mary’s house must have been of some size, with a vestibule opening onto the street, a courtyard, and rear living quarters—not only were “many people gathered” there, but Peter was knocking at the door of the vestibule, and Rhoda the servant girl was rushing back and forth for joy. The unfolding scene is one of confusion and joyful humor, which must have led to hilarity every time it was repeated among the early believers. There was Peter’s knocking, becoming more and more urgent as he beat on the door; Rhoda’s losing her wits for joy and forgetting to open the door; the Christians’ refusal to believe it was Peter, even though they had just been praying for him; their belittling of Rhoda and of her insistence she had heard Peter’s voice at the door; Rhoda’s frantic persistence; and their utter astonishment when they finally opened the door and let him in.