The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-11-02
Peter Delivered from Prison.

INTRODUCTORY.
lesson on prayer. What can be
better or more timely? Prayer moves
the arm OF God. Prayer was Christ's
chief resort. Who would not pray?
Without doubt there needs TO be a new
quickening of the spiritual intelligence
in the virtue of supplication. More
prayer, more OF the right sort, signifies
more means for mission effort. more
souls for our hire; much of the greatest
blessing for us is lying just on the other
side of the asking. God is simply watt
ing to be inquired OF. To pray well.
said Luther, is to study well. Yes, and
TO pray we'll is to preach well, work well,
live well. Lord, teach us to pray"
WHAT THELEssoN SAYS.
About that time About this time
Paul was beginning his work among the
Gentle churches. Al b. C.-Herod the
king. Herod Agrippa l., grandson OF
Herod the Great. His death is recorded
at verse twenty three.-Vex. Or, ill
treat. The root means evil.
James. One of the two sons OF Zeb-
edee. Prominent in the apostolic col
lege.-With tho sword. There were
several modes of capital punishment at
this time.
Pleased the Jews. Strictly in accord
ance with Herod's policy with the ma
tion.-To take Peter also. While he
was at it, he might as well capture an
other apostle He did not know what
he was about. bread,
i. e., the passover. Another passover
before this had been made time OF ex-
ceeding violence.
Quarternion. Four men, two to be
chained to the prisoners, two TO watch
the door. Four sets OF these, one for
each watch, sixteen in all.-Easter.
Greek: Passover, probably the whole
feast.
Without ceasing. One word in the
Greek, meaning to hold out. 1t is also
rendered fervcntly, earnestly. Or
the church. lie was doubtless the lead
ing pastor in the group over the Jeru-
sa EN- church. 1t might well call forth
q protracted meeting. Some churches
seem TO be waiting for such provocation
to-day.
Would have brought him forth. Bet
ter, was about to bring him forth
The keepers, or guards. The other pair
of the four making the quaternion at
this time on duty.
Prison. Greek: dwelling, or room.
-Smote. SO as to awaken.-Side.
From this comes our word pleurisy
(pleura.)
Grid myself. AS for iourney.-And
so he did. Instant, unquestloning obe-
dience.-Follow me. He would GER
tainly desire to keep very close to such
a helper.
Visit not that it was true |. e., real,
actual. Thought he saw a vision.
Thought he was beholding an apparition,
as with the church in verse fifteen.
Thou art mad. Out Of her head.-
Constantly affirmed. More accurately
and graphically, kept on insisting
Has angel. Supposing him dead. SO
we understand it.
Continual knocking. An angel not
needing to knock. they doubtless con-
cluded that it was something else.-
Astonished. Greek: out of themselves.
At their wits ends.
BeckCning. Or, waving the hand, to
secure silence. Declared. Better,
related. Go show these things unto
James. Greek: Tell James, |. e., either
tho son Of Alpheus or the brother OF
Jesus. Gal. /: 19.-The brethren.
Probably met in prayer elsewhere.
What glad news for the little companies
gathered here and there!
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
But prayer was made without ceas-
said in the narrative that Peter was by
Herod kept in prison. BY the church he
is, as it were, kept in prayer. That is
sufficient; Peter is safe. Yonder at
Philippi are Paul and Silas encompassed
with dungeon walls. Through prayer
and praise they are surrounded by ranks
of angels. just now the angel cohorts
move aside little, but a little forsooth,
and the flimsy walls come down. Kept
in prison-kept in prayer. So stands
the Christian in this naughty world.
Turn TO your stronghold, ye prisoners
of hope"
The house of Mary. 1t was a house OF
prayer. And here is noteworthy thing.
There were many gathered together.
at that place, praying" And when
Peter considered" L suppose prayer.
fully, "he came TO the house OF Mary.
The attractiveness of prayer. Where
shall go?" says Peter, delivered from
prison. Here" answers the Spirit:
and his feet are led TO the house Oh
prayer. What called Ananias 10 inc
side of Paul? Behold, he pra;eih.
What led the APOSTLE to Cornelius
house? PRAYER. All, there is draw
ing power in prayer-for those who arc
Gods. How many OF us seek out inc
praver circle when we go 10 new
place? Confess.
Then said they, it is his angel; They
meant his ghost. So feeble their faith,
eo weak were they. They have just
been PRAYING for Peter; and now here
be stands before them, their prayers an
swered. Forthwith they say, he is
dead. and this is his spirit. All, we'll,
those early Christians were very much
like ourselves. They had faith, little
faith. like the mustard seed in quantity.
faith to touch the hem; ut true faith.
or they could not have prayed. They
had not such full faith, or rather &C
with God, as TO know OF a
surety their prayers were heard and to
look out Of their windows expecting the
answer. After all, God is better than
our prayers. Only, strengthen We the
weak hanls, and confirm the feeble
knees.
Next Lesson-"The First Christian
Acts 10: Lib.