Lexical Summary Rhodé: Rhoda Original Word: Ῥόδη Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rhoda. Probably for rhode (a rose); Rode, a servant girl -- Rhoda. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rhodon (a rose) Definition Rhoda, a servant girl NASB Translation Rhoda (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4498: ῬόδηῬόδη, Ρ᾽οδης, ἡ, Rhoda (i. e. 'rose'), the name of a certain maidservant: Acts 12:13. Topical Lexicon Name and Cultural Background Rhoda appears in Scripture as a young female servant in the household of Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12). Her Greek name, common among Jews living in the Hellenistic world, hints at a family conversant with both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures. As a domestic servant in a relatively affluent Jerusalem home, Rhoda belongs to the often-overlooked class whose fidelity to Christ quietly undergirded the Church’s earliest gatherings. Biblical Occurrence Luke records Rhoda’s single appearance during Peter’s miraculous release from prison. “When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer” (Acts 12:13). Overjoyed at recognizing Peter’s voice, she neglected to open the gate and instead ran to announce his arrival (Acts 12:14). Her report was initially dismissed—“You are out of your mind”—yet her insistence compelled the group to verify the miracle (Acts 12:15-16). Historical Setting Acts 12 unfolds during Herod Agrippa I’s persecution of the Jerusalem church (about A.D. 44). James the son of Zebedee has just been executed; Peter is imprisoned. The assembly in Mary’s house meets in secret to pray “earnestly to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Rhoda thus participates in one of the earliest recorded house-church prayer meetings, highlighting the domestic spaces where believers sought refuge and fellowship. Rhoda’s Role in the Early Church 1. Witness to God’s Deliverance: Rhoda is the first to attest that Peter stands free at the gate, effectively becoming a herald of answered prayer. Spiritual Significance • Vigilant Expectation: Rhoda listened attentively for Peter’s voice while others continued in prayer, displaying watchfulness allied to intercession. Applications for Ministry Today • Encourage young believers and those in humble roles to recognize their vital place in God’s purposes. Faith and Joy in Answered Prayer Rhoda’s moment underscores a biblical pattern: God often answers prayer in unforeseen ways, challenging the church to recognize His timing (Isaiah 65:24; Ephesians 3:20). Her joy mirrors the shepherds’ exuberance at the incarnation (Luke 2:17-20) and Mary Magdalene’s announcement of the resurrection (John 20:18), placing her testimony within the broader narrative of joyful proclamation. Comparison with Other Biblical Servants Like the unnamed servant girl who directed Naaman to Elisha (2 Kings 5:2-3) and the maid who recognized Peter’s Galilean accent at Jesus’ trial (Matthew 26:69-70), Rhoda shows that servants, though socially marginal, play pivotal roles in redemptive history. Her faith contrasts with Peter’s earlier denial, illustrating transformation within the community of believers. Legacy in Christian Tradition Early Christian writers seldom expand on Rhoda, yet her account has endured in sermons and children’s lessons as a symbol of exuberant faith. She stands as a reminder that gospel history advances through ordinary believers who respond promptly to God’s mighty acts, affirming that “God chose what is low and despised in the world… to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28). Conclusion Rhoda’s brief appearance leaves a lasting imprint: a servant girl, listening for the knock of deliverance, becomes a messenger of answered prayer. Her narrative invites every generation of Christians to pair fervent intercession with watchful expectancy, rejoicing when God opens prison doors and ushering rescued saints into the fellowship of the praying church. Forms and Transliterations Ροδη Ῥόδη Rhode Rhodē Rhóde Rhódē Rode RodēLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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