Acts 12:12

12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

Acts 12:12 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:12

And when he had considered the thing
The whole of the salvation wrought for him; or rather, where he should go, to what house he should betake himself; ere he was aware,

he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was
Mark.
This good woman seems to be a widow, no mention being made of her husband, and was sister to Barnabas, ( Colossians 4:10 ) . She is described by a son she had, whose name was John Mark, because of the frequent mention made of him hereafter; her house being large, and her heart as large as her house, the saints met here, and were welcome, and where they were at this time, though so late:

where many were gathered together, praying;
the Ethiopic version adds, "for him"; and there were some in other places, for one place could not hold them all; see ( Acts 12:17 ) they held out to the end in prayer; this was their last effort in this way, and in this they were no doubt exceeding vehement and importunate, and they succeeded; so true is that observation in ( James 5:16 ) .

Acts 12:12 In-Context

10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”