The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-02
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
NOVEMBER 8.
Lesson Text: "Peter Delivered From
Prison." Acts xii, 1-17-Go,den
Text: Psalm xxx,v., Z
Commentary.

I. "Now about that lime Hsroi. the king.
stretched forth his hands to vex certain OF
the church." Herod represents the world,
and the world is always at enmtty with God
God are not found suffering more or less
persecution from the world 1t must be be-
cause they are greatly conformed to!it See
Jas. iv. q, 4; Rom. xii, l. ?; II Tim. Ill. 12;
John xv., 1890.
q "And he killed James the brother Of
John, with the sword" James was one of
the first to follow Jesus, and with Peter and
John had been His special companion on sew
eral occasions, as on the Mount Of TransAg-
uration and in the Garden Of Gethsemane,
and now he is first to see his Lord in glory
the first of the twelve. Jesus had taught
them to be ready for this (Math. K, IS.
John xvi. q.
3. "And because He saw it pleased the
Jews. He proceeded further to take Peter
also" Being passover time city would. be
full of people, and Herod by pleasing them
would have opportunity to make himself
popular. He did not know that it is God
chat putteth down one and setteth up an
other (Ps. lxxv, 6. o. Like Plate he saw
only the people or Cesar.
4. Peter in prison and guarded by sixteen
soldiers, four on duty at time, ls surely in
safe keeping. humanity speaking; but when
men take counsel against God He that sit
teth in the heavens shall laugh PA 1xxiii,
10. IL; H., A.. God may allow Peter to be
slain. as He did John the Baptist aud Stephen
and James, but il He purposes otherwise not
all the soldiers on earth can hold Him.
5. Peter remains In prison. but the be-
LEVERS cease not to pray for him. According
to the margin, "Instant and earnest prayer
was made for him." Not knowing whether
it might be will of GOD to spare him or not,
while he lived they could earnestly ask that
il it could be for the glory Of God he might
be delivered. Compare it. (5am. xii, %, 23l
6. The saying that mans extremity Is
Gods opportunity Is often illustrated. The
last night Of Peters life seemed to have
come, for on the morrow Herod would bring
him forth to be slain. There seems no pos
sibility Of escape; chained, to a soldier on
either side, and all doors and gates securely
euarded-but ah, Lord God, there is uoth-
ing too hard for Thee lJer. 1xxii., II.
I. Read Ps. clii., 20, and behold here one
of those servants Of God to whom storm
and tempest, fire and food, walls and bars
are as nothing. The soldiers sleep on while
Peters chains fall of and be arises at the
word of the angel! Read how just such
messenger smcte 1856 900 men, while another
shut the lions mouths, and another found
Paul in thestorm on the sea lisa. xKxviii.,
80; Dan. vi, 22: Acts xvii, 23,.
y. Without unnecessary haste and yet
quickly, Peter at tho word Of the angel
girds himself, puts on his sandals and also
his outer garments and prepares to follow
his deliverer. God will leave nothing be-
longing to His people in the hands Of the
enemy. Wh,n Israel came out OF Egypt
they left not q hoof behind lex. <, 26A,
when we come forth on shat resurrection
morning it shall be seen that not a hair OF,
our heads has persisted Luke xxi, 49,.
=. Thus far It was all like dream to Peter.
He had already seen wondrous Things in a
vision (chapter T., 10. III and supposed he
was now enjoying another revelation from
heaven. It was as when the captives re
turned from Babylon and they said they
were like them that dream tPs. cxxyi., y.
10. Safely through the wards, and by tine
guards, and through the outer iron gate that
opened of its own accord, and along through
one street, aud then the angel left him, and
Peter finds himself alone--a few moments
before in an inner prison securely chained.
but now q free man by the mighty power OF
God. The same power sets free the sinner
from satan's bondage and will soon bring
forth the body Of every saint from the prison
house OF the grave.
II, How Peter convinced himself that it
was no vision, but a waking, a reality, we
are not told. We can imagine him In Vari-
GUS ways proving to himself that he Is really
awake, and as he walks about he hnds no
chains, no soldiers and no prison walls: it
dawns upon him that again ne has had an
angels visit. Ste chaptery., Is, ".
II. Finding 1t all gloriously real, he at
once turns his steps to where he knew be
would find some fellow believers. This
Mary seems to have been sister to Barna.
has iCoi. iy., 10I and her home headquar-
ters for the saints. Blessed are the homes
where the saints are welcome to meet for
IS ii. As Peter knocks Rhoda comes to
answer (R. W and is so overcome with
gladness that she forgets.to let him in, and
ran back TO tell that Peter was at the gate.
Great JOY does make some people act
strangely; sorrow and trial humble them
and bring them lear to Goi, while prosper
ity sets them wild. Had tho soldiers been
after Peter they would have got him while
She was saving hs wa; there. But God was
caring for him.
Is. 'sAnd they said unto her, Thou art
mad. But she constantly affirmed tnat it
was even 30. Tnen said they, 1t Is his
angel" The prayer meeting gives place to
a discussion, while Che answer to their
prayers is kept waiting outside the door.
Is it not .ssibie that answers to prayer are
still kept outside wcils discussion instead OF
thanksgiving is going on in the churchi
Consider the following texts 10 reference to
people who are accounted mad: Isa. lix.,
Is, margin; Hos. tx, z; John z. 90; Acts
xvi, "a. How slow we are to expect or ac-
knowledge answers to prayer
16 But Peter continued knocking, and
when they had opened the door and saw him
they were astonished." How gracious of our
God to have the answers to Cur prayers con-
tiuue knocking! Perhaps there are some at
and acknowledged Answers often ccme, not
as we expect. but in some unlocked for form
and way. Let us pray that we may recognize
the answers when they come and quickly
acknowledge them.
II. 'Nosily they chattered, bat by his
hand he stilled them aud then told how the
lord had brought him out of prison" Why
do we not hear more testimony as to what
the Lord hes done for His people lPs Xvi,
16, or is He not doing much these days be.
cause Of our unbeliet? Having given the tes-
timony he would have them pass it on to
James tson Of Alpheus, Math. Z, 81 and the
brethren. ALI gooi tidings OF tne grace Of
(+od are to be passed on to others as fast as
possible. he departed and went to another
place, so that whom Heroi sought for him in
the morning he could not be found. There
is morning coming when believers shall not
be found. but the enemies OF the Lord shall
be found and slain lvarses 1928. compare
Heb. Ii, :; II Thess. l., 7.io Lesson Helper.
TEE millionaire Is becoming far