Peter, Peter Prison Defeater

Mark Mielbrecht shares a humorous and meaningful story from a missions trip to India in 2000, where a misunderstanding of the Hindi word for “stop” (he said bus, which meant “foul smell” instead of bas) left him feeling frustrated and misunderstood. He uses this moment to connect with the deeper theme of misunderstanding—particularly how the early church and even Jesus Himself were often profoundly misunderstood. The early believers faced intense persecution despite their acts of love and healing, and even Paul, before his conversion, believed he was doing God's will by imprisoning Christians. Mark then turns to Acts 12, recounting how Peter was imprisoned by Herod but miraculously freed by an angel, an event that surprised even those who were praying for him. The story highlights God's power to intervene and the importance of faith and prayer in times of crisis. Mark emphasizes that these biblical accounts are not just stories, but testimonies meant to open our eyes and deepen our understanding. He closes in prayer, asking God to help us truly see and hear the lessons in His Word so that our lives might be transformed.