Practice Hospitality

The book of Acts has many examples of women who are willing participants in the gospel. Their role was an important one in the advancement of the gospel. Today we look at one of them in Mary the mother of Mark in Acts 12. An angel breaks Peter out of prison. Once out and Peter realizes that this is real, he goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were there praying for Peter's release. This house was one of the places where the Christians would have gathered. Early in the history of the church, there were no church buildings, and local groups would meet in the homes of Christians whose house was big enough to accommodate it. Mary was most likely a wealthy widow (no husband mentioned and she had a servant girl) and she had opened her home as one of the meeting places for the church. Mary used her wealth to offer hospitality even in risky times. Hospitality is not for women alone but for men as well.