Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-03
gnteraatiunal gssson.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON vi, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY II.

LESSON VI, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY II.
Text Of the Lesson. Acts XII, 1-10.
Memory Verses. 5-7-Golden Text,
Ps. xxxiy, documentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. NJ. Stcarns.
copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
1, 2. Now, about that time Herod the
king stretched forth his hands to vex GER
tain of the church. and he killed James,
the brother Of John. with the sword.
From the tine that the devil, the
murderer and liar John viii, AZ, put 1t
into the heart of Cain to kill Abel he
has ever shown his hatred Of God and
the people of God by using his worst
weapon, death Heb. II, 14, and that
even against the Son Of God Himself.
1t was a good day for James, for he
was instantly with the Lord In the en-
ioyment of the very far better.
s-5. And because he saw It pleased the
Jews he proceeded further to take Peter
also.
Being Passover time, he kept Peter
in prison under the care of four COM
panies of soldiers, intending after that
season to kill him also to still further
please the Jews-some Of the same
Jews, no doubt, who were pleased to
cruelty the Lord Jesus and stone
Stephen and all the while profess to be
doing God service Yet God lives, the
only living and true God, and oil pow
er is His, and He permits these things
to be, and He Is not discouraged. and
the kingdoms Of this world shall yet be
the kingdom Of our Lord and of His
Christ Rev. xi, 15). We can do what
the church did for Peter, earnestly and
increasingly cry unto God and be ready
to lay down our lives for Christ.
6. Peter was sleeping between two SOL
Iiers bound with two chains.
A double guard. strong prison.
chains. gates, and. as far as human
vision could see, death for Peter on the
morrow, yet Peter slept. and doubtless
quietly, for he was in Christ and Christ
In God. The wall Of fire was round
about him. and with him all was well
whether he remained in the mortal
body or not (Col. Iii, 8; Zech. II, 5, 8;
lisa. iii, 1O. 1t is grand to see God and
not circumstances nor people; to see
circumstances and people only through
God and be still and know that He Is
God (Ps. XVI, 10; Rom. Will, %, 29).
7-s. And, behold. the angel Of the Lord
came upon him. and light shined IN the
prison.
Before Peter could realize 1t his
chains were off. his sandals were on,
his garment about him. and he was
following the angel out Of the prison.
the soldiers still soundly sleeping. but
Peter thought it was all a beautiful
vision which God had granted him.
How great and glorious Is the ministry
of angels who minister unto the heirs
Of salvation! Neb. |, A.
TO- II. When Peter was come to himself.
he said, Now know Of surety that the
Lord hath sent His angel and hath deliv-
from all the expectation Of the people OF
the Jews.
On they went past the first watch
and the second. and the iron gate open
ed Of its own accord-perhaps other
angels swung 1t open at the approach
Of the angel followed by Peter-and
still on they went through one street,
we'll away from the prison, before the
angel left Peter. Then, being left alone
and finding himself in the night out
on street of the city, he began to
realize that it was no dream, but that
he was actually free man by the
mighty power Of an angel Of God.
r. He came to the house Of Mary. the
mother Of John. whose surname was
Mark. where many were gathered togeth-
er praying.
This he did as soon as, having come
to himself. he considered the matter.
he knew just where to 60, for on u
previous occasion when he and John
had been released from prison and
from the power Of the rulers, it Is writ
ten that being let 60 they went to
their own company" (Acts iv, 23).
ISIS. Thou art mad. It Is his angel
What strange words from company
of praying believers when they are
told that their prayers are answered
and Peter Is at the door knocking for
admission. Rhoda was so glad that she
forgot to open the door for him, and
they were so amazed that they could
not believe her. We might not wonder
to have the world count the believer
mad Qsa. lix, Is, margin; Hos. ix, Z;
John K, 2O), but for believers, and such
as these, to count each other mad Is
more strange. May we not be so slow
to act upon Jer. xxxiii, 8, or to live in
Ps. xii, 5.
1s, II. Go shew these things unto James
and to the brethren.
Peter continued knocking, the only
thing he could do. for doors did not
open to him as prison gates to the an
gel, and in due time they opened to him
and were astonished to see him. He,
quieting them, told them NIL that the
Lord had done for him and babe them
tell James and the others. This is the
James of chapter XIV, 13, who seems to
have been president Of the council at
yornca1on Iomac tho hrothar of I0hn