Rhoda

Read the incredible story in Acts 12 of the Apostle Peter's escape from jail with the help of an angel. With two guards chained to him, Peter lay sleeping until an angel came and hit him on his side. " And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." In other words, "Throw on your clothes. Let's get out of here."

Peter had trouble believing what was happening. The angel led him through the open gates of the jailhouse and down some streets in the dark.

After the angel left, Peter went to his family's house. A young girl named Rhoda must have been left in charge of the door. When Peter knocked and called out, she was so happy she forgot to open the door.

I've always had some questions about Rhoda. Why would an assembly of followers of the Way—a group in danger of being taken by soldiers and incarcerated—make a young damsel the gatekeeper? Also, who was Rhoda? Was she a slave?

The scene of Rhoda failing to open the door is one of my favorite Bible stories. "Rhoda" is a fictional account of who she was.