Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1916 — ST. PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ST. PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON

4*t« April 30. Passover Trials and Testings—Death of St. James —St. Peter Imprisoned. His Miraculous Deliverance—An AllNight Prayer-Meeting—The Reward of Faith—Lessons For Our Day—Divine Guardianship of Ail Truly His. "The angel of the Lord cncampeth round about them that fear Him. and delitercth them.”— Pialm 3}:7. nEROD was the family name of several kings who ruled. Israel but who were Edomites. At the time of today’s Study lierod Agrippa I. had been appointed king of Judea. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, murderer of the halves at Bethlehem, and the nephew of. Herod Antipas. who beheaded John, the Baptist and subsequently, with his S'ddierSi set Jesus at naught and mocked II im. just prior to llis crucifixion. Herod Agrippa appears to have been desirous of the goodwill of the people, even at the cost of principle. He took pains to observe the minutiae of Jewish ceremonials. On the lookout

to curry favor, especially with the influential Jews, Agrippa caused the Apostle James to lie beheaded. Finding that the deat h of St. James brought great pleasure to the Jews, he had the Apo -tie Peter arrested. The expression. "\V h eh

he had apprehended him.” implies that some delay occurred— that St. Peter’s arrest was after searching. Probably all of the Apostles were more or less secreted about that time. But. trusting to the sacredness of the Basso.er season. St. Peter had ventured forth an .1 was imprisoned. Agrippa intending Lis death after the Passover week.

We can well imagine the sadness of the Church at this Passover’ season, which must have reminded them considerably of our Lords death. For some years past it has seemed to us as though each Passover season, each Memorial celebration. was a time of special trial and testing amongst the followers of our Lord. Whether this is a fact or not. Surely it will not injure the Lord’s jteople to be especially on guard against the wiles of the Adversary at these times. Let ns watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. St. Peter i,s supposed to have been imprisoned in the famous Castle of Antonia. where our Lord was arraigned before Pilate, and where St- Paul was subsequently taken when mobbed in Jerusalem. The Apostle had a guard of four quaternions—four soldiers each —who relieved each other every three hours. Two of the four were chained to his arms, the third-stood outside the door, and the fourth was stationed in the passage leading to the outer gate. The power of grace Divine to give peace amidst alarms is well illustrated in this cafce by the fact that St. Peter was fast asleep when the angel of the Lord came to deliver him. The proprieties of the case are also illustrated by the fact that the Church were not asleep, but praying for the Apostle. It was not for him to pray for deliver-* ance from Agrippa’s power. For him to have asked for the prolongation of life would have manifested a wilfulness incomputable with a full consecration to God’s will. But with the Church it was different. They could with all proju-iety tell the Lord of their love tor St. Peter, and express the hope that it might be the Divine will that he should continue with them. Between three and six o’clock in the morning St. Peter was awakened by an angel, whose radiant features enabled the Apostle quickly to discern

that his deliverer was a holy being. The Apostle was bidden to arise, Simultaneously the chains were loosed which bound him to the soldiers. lie then was instructed to put on his cloak and to follow his leader. He did so. Thus he was led past the

first and second doors, until they came to the great iron gate leading into the city. This swung open of its own accord; and then the angel left him. Doubtless the angel had started St. Peter in the direction of Mary’s home, where prayer was being made on his behalf. The description of the house implies that it was of the better class. St. Peters knock was answered by Rhoda—little Rose —who was so delighted, when she recognized his voice, that, childlike, she neglected to open the door before running back to tell the praying household that he was at the gate. Some thought that the little maid was mistaken, and insisted that it was his angel—in harmony with the thought that an angel had supervision of each of God's people, and that shell might personate his charge. The brethren were surprised at the Lord's answer to their petition; for it came very unexpectedly as respects time. When they realized that it was St. Peter, there was an outburst of excitement which he was obliged to silence by shaking his hands. Then he narrated the wonderful story of his deliverance. and bade them tell it to the other James, the cousin of Jesus, and other disciples. Then he went his way.

St. Peter and Rhoda.

St. Per's Dcliverance.