The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-05-08

did. And he saith unto him. Cast thy gar.
ment about thee. and follow me.
And he went out. and followed him;
and wist not that II was true which was
done by the angel: but thought he saw a
vision. - 'N|~
GOLDEN TExT-TAs angel Of the
Lord encampetA Pouna about then,
that fear Hin, aAd aelivsPeth then.
-Ps. 81, z.
OUTLINE OF SCR1PfURALS SECTION.
Martyrdom Of James. Acts 1871. g.
Peter imprisoned. Acts l2:3-s.
Peter delivered. Acts n:6-11
Peter and the disciples. Acts l2:12,l7.
Inc dispieased Mng.............Acts 12:lS-0
Time.-A. D. A..
Place.-Jerusalem and Caesarea.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Church in Jerusalem.-That
church had a new foe In Herod Agrippa
l., grandson Of Herod the Great, who
was appointed king Of Trachonitis by
Emperor Caligula. This dominion
was subsequently enlarged until. in
A. d. Al, it included the whole Of Pal
estine. Herod was not welcome to the
Jews because he had Edomite blood
in his veins. He tried to make himself
popular with them by showing him.
self to be a Pharisee Of the Pharisees,
scrupulous offerer Of sacrifices and
observer of the ceremonial law. His
highest bid for their good will was
made in his putting forth his hand
against the church.
Martyrdom Of James.-The Herod
who appears in this account was Herod
Agrippa l. He is not mentioned else
where in the Bible. This James was
one of the three disciples most fnti-
mate with Jesus, but he is mentioned
in the Acts only here and in the list
Of the apostles. 1t does not follow
from that, however, that his work was
less important or even less prominent
than Peters or Johns.
neutrality-suspicious. was killed
perhaps on the anniversary Of Jesus
crucifixion on the Passover day. Peter
.i', was i'g,tel, lot of groypl.d a.Sssr S,T; tSs ne
feast, A auaternion is squad o. fonr f'r
so,d,.rs, and these soldiers served in
watches, four at time, to guard Pc
ter. The prayer Of the church Is not
said to have been for Peters deliver
ance. though no doubt that was sought.
Peter would need strength to endure,
and the church would naturally pray
for that most.
Peter Delivered.-Peter's rescue was
on the last night before he was to have
been put to death. The soldiers who
were bound to him were asleep, ~
was permissible, but others were ON
guard at the door Of his cell, besides
the usual guards Of the prison. Peter
himself had to be reused, freed,
clothed and led out without waking
the guards. but the difficult work was
safely accomplished. No wonder the
sleepy apostle thought he was seeing
a vision. The angel led him far enough
away from the prison so that he
would not be in immediate danger Of
recapture, and then left him.
Peterand the Disciples.-Peter knew
Mary's home, which was quite possibly
the house where Jesus had eaten the
last supper and where the Holy Spirit
had fallen on the disciples. That house
was common gathering place Of the
Christians. The unbelief of the COM
pany when Peters arrival was an
nounced is not surprising. 1t was
quite as likely that some enemy might
come in Peters name as that the apos-
tie himself would arrive. Nor is the
unbelief discreditable If, as is likely,
their prayer was chiefly that Peters
faith and courage might not fail. That
place was too well known as a resort
of Christians for Peter to stay there.
The James of verse II is the brother
of the Lord and author of the epistle,
who was president or bishop of the
church in Jerusalem.
The Displeased King.-The killing OF
the guards was in accordance with mil.
itary law, which recognizes no excuses
for failure to guard prisoner. Her.
od's removal to Caesarea was probably
partly due to disgust at Peters escape
but was intended only as an official
visit. The sickness of which he died
was probably not miraculous, but
something Of the nature of appendi
citis, or, possibly, trichiniasis. The
latter would be more likely, save fol
the fact that Herod would hardly sc
offend Jewish prejudices as to ca,
pork. Jews and Christians alike con
sidered it Divine judgment.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Since the beginning the church ha.
not been without its vexing and har
assing enemies.
How many have suffered that W,
may worship God in peace and safety
Do we appreciate our privileges?
Sometimes the best and most needst
servants Of God are taken away, ant
yet the work goes on.
II we prayed more believingly, W,
would not be 10 astonished at the an
swers to some Of our prayers.
God will answer our prayers In HI
own rood time and Wny and In man