The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17


was seemingly rendered impossible.
This outrage by Herod was shock to
the helpless church. Peter was the
spokesman, the champion. the inspirer
OF the church in Jerusalem. Now his
doom seemed certain.
The church did what the church in
all ages has done under similar circum-
stances: it gave itself to prayer. Human
deliverance seemed an impossibility; to
Gods will the church would bow.
1. Peter aroused by a myster-
iOus visitOr,-vs. SIS.
The Passover had passed; the last
night of Peters imprisonment had ar
rived. He was asleep in an inner cell of
the prison. He was bound by chains
to two soldiers. one on either side; the
two other soldiers of the quarternion
stood without, guarding the door. The
soldiers were anxious to save their own
lives by watchful guard of the prisoner;
for they knew we'll that his escape
would, under Roman law. mean their
own death.
The occurrence which followed we ex-
plain by classifying it among things uu-
explainable. A messenger of God stood
by Peter. A light sbined in his CELL
Peter was smitten on his side; in dazed
state, not being able to distinguish real
ity from vision, he heard the words, Rise
up quickly. His chains fell away. The
strange visitor said. Grid thyseT and
bind on ting sandals. and cast thy gar
maent about thee and follop me.
2. Peter led from prison, VS..
9-12.
Peter obeyed. He followed his con-
ductor, not knowing whether he was
dreaming or waking. The two passed
unchallenged the guard at the door Of
his cell. and the general guard Of
prison; and when they came to the great
iron gate opening to the outer world, the
gate opened. seemingly of its own accord.
Peter passed with his strange leader the
length of one street, then Peter was
suddenly left alone. His senses re-
turned; he became fully awake.
Could he explain his strange exper-
fence? He knew one thing surely, that
he was delivered from the prison. 1t
| does not seem to US probable that he at
| tempted to distinguish between the mar
vellous and the supernatural. the human
and the superhuman. when he, coming
to himself, said: NoaU know for q
| truth, that the Lord hath sent forth has
messenger and delivered me out of the
| hand of Herod, and from the ecpectd-
ton of the people of the Jeaos. Who, in
Peters place, could doubt that his de-
liverance was Divine interposition?
3. Peter Received by his
Friends,-vs. 1917.
Peter perhaps followed habit. per
haps followed the advice of his visitor.
in going to the house of Mary the mo-
Their of Mark. She was aunt or sister to
Barnabas. She had opened her house,
which was her own property. as an as
sembling place for the Christians. 1t is
probable that it was in her house that
the Lord found the guest-room where
he ate his last supper with his disciples.
A company of Christians, though so late
in the night, was even now in her house
praying for Peter, who had been ap-
pointed for martyrdom the next day.
Peter knocked at the outer gate. to
the assembled company an ominous
sound. Had the officers come for other
victims? A maid named Rhoda (Rose)
went cautiously to the lookout above
the gate. Peter spoke to her. Peter!
| She knew his voice. Could she believe
her ears? She ran with the amazing
news to the asse mbly. Peter stands be-
fore the.gate" "Have you. Rose, lost your
sanity?" "NaY. but Peter does stand
before the gate" ut must be an angel,
assuming his likeness, coming to warn
us of our danger" Meanwhile they hear
the knocking at the gate. When they
gather courage to open the door their
astonished eyes behold Peters unmis-
taxable presence in flesh and blood.
1t is not time, however, for elaborate
demonstrations. Powerful foes will soon
be on the hunt. Peter beckoned unto them
aoith the hand to hold their peace. Then
he hastily told them of his almost incredi-
BILE escape from the prison. What soul
among them,-without thought OF su-
pernatural or natural, could fail to in
stantly recognize the Divine hand in
this unlocked for deliveranee of Peter
Peter, so prompt to act, knew the dan
ger of remaining within reach Of Roman
spies. He charged those present to tell
the story of his preservation to james,
the Lords brother, on whom the leader
ship of the church in Jerusalem would
now devolve. Then Peter hastily de-
parted to some secret place, to wait till
the times we're more propitious.
The record carries this story to
its natural conclusion, Herod, when he
found his tyrannical purpose frustrated
by a secret power he could not control,
was frantic with rage. He commanded
that the guards who had suffered the es-
cape of their prisoner should be imme-
diately led away to execution. Then his