Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-05-09
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May II.
Subject: Peter Delivered From Prison, Acts
XII, l.l9-GoIden Text Pisa. xxxiy.. J.
Memory Verses, 5.7-Commentary
on The Days Lesson

l.. about that time" About the time
Saul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem.
Chap. IL: 80. "Herod" This was Herod
Agrippa l.. He was grandson of Herod
the Great who murdered the innocents
Matt 2: 49,; nephew of Herod Antlpas
who murdered John the Baptist Matt. IA:
3-H), and father to Herod Agrippa III,
before whom Paul preached Acts 26: /.
Stretched forth" A fgurative expression
denoting that he laid his hands on them,
Or that he endeavored violently to Cypress
the church. ITO vex." ITO afHict." r.
V. According to Josepnss, Herod was
anxious to be esteemed devout jew.
2. KILLED James" James was one OF
the three apostles who had been especially
favored by Jesus. with the sword"
By killing with the sword we are to UNI
derstand beheading. Among the Jews
there were four kinds Of death-stoning,
burning, killing with the sword, or be-
heading, and strangling.
3. pleased" His object was to gain
public favor. "Peter also" Peter was
very conspicuous. "Unleavened bread"
The feast Of the Passover which continued
seven days.
4. "Apprehended." See R. V. "In
prison." Intending to keep him until the
feast was over. During the solemnities OF
This religious festival it would have been
deemed improper to have engaged in the
trial of supposed criminal. -Four
luaternions" A ,quaternion was a com
pany of four soldiers, hence there were
possible. Peter had once escaped from
the prison of the Sanhedrin Is: l9) and
they did not intend that he should get
away again. "After Easter" "After the
Passover" R. V. After the whole feast
was over. The word Easter is an eccles-
iastical term of later date, and should
have no place in the sacred text. Bring
him forth" This evidently means to put
him to death provided ''the people"-the
Oloodthirsty Jews desired it.
S: Prayer" The only weapon they
could use. without ceasing." Earnest
ly." r. V. These prayers brought about
his deliverance "Of the church." They
40 doubt met in private houses because OF
the persecution which would make public
| services dangerous.
6. THE same night" The night pre-
ceding the day on which Herod intended
TO bring him forth for trial and execution.
peter was sleeping" Peter had nothing
to fear. He was ready to die for his Mas
ter.
7. CANCEL. came" The deliverance
was delayed until the last moment. This
would test the faith of the church. ga
light shined." The angel brought no Ian
tern, lamp or candle, yet ne brought a
Tight" the beaming of his own person.
Peter saw by it his prison, his chains, his
cloak, his sandals, and his emancipation.
In the prison" "In the, cell" R. V:
mony of the reality of the angelic appear
ance. RAISED him up" "Awoke him"
r. V. Saying, Arise" The angel did not
assist Peter to arise CHAINS fell of"
The chains that bound him to the two
sleeping soldiers. With what ease can God
deliver His people from their enemies!
s. "Gird myself" In order that he
might sleep more comfortably, he had laid
aside his belt, OF girdle, his sandals, and
his tunic. "Bind on thy sandals" This
was a shoe made to cover only the sole OF
the foot.
g. "And he went out" Guided by the
angel, he met no opposition in his way;
He was led by the angel safely out OF all
danger. "And wist not" He knew not:
10. Ward" The terms ward and
guard are but different forms of the same
word. They were probably all asleep;
Iron gate" Although locked and barred
it opened at their approach! Departed"
Supernatural aid was unnecessary.
ii. "Come to himself" Recovered
from the confusion of mind into which he
had been thrown. "Now l know" He
had had similar experience before this.
Chap. 5: 10. 'The expectation" The
Jews waiting anxiously for his execution.
u. CONSIDERED" When he fully COM
pretended what had transpired, and had
weighed everything connected with the
circumstances of his deliverance. House
u Mary" She was the sister of Barna,
pas. Col. 4: 10. Mother of John.
John is his Hebrew name and Mark ms
Latin name He attended Paul and
Rarnabas on their first missionary jour-
aey. and is the author of the gospel which
bears his name. "Many. praying" This
was probably the latter part of the night,
and this large company had, no doubt,
been praying all night.
49, Door of the gate" The street
gate at the entrance to the court in front
sf the house, which was fastened, probably,
'for fear of the Jews" Game to harken.
ID "Knew Peters voice" Peter may
be supposed to have announced his name,
OF to have given it in reply to her In
1mirv "For gladness." She was so eager
70 inform the others that she ran to in
form them without taking time to open the
door.
Is. "Thou art mad" One of those ex.
CARNATIONS which one can hardly resist on
hearing what seems "far too good to be
true" ellis angel" His guardian angel
assuming his form and voice, common
Jewish belief.
l6. "They were astonished." This does
not indicate that they were unbelevine
and had no expectation of an answer. Oul
prayers are often answered in unexpected
ways.
II. "Hold their peace" Their joy was
20 loud in its expression that he was OBJ
liged to motion to them to be quiet in
order to secure an opportunity to inform
them of his deliverance. James" MOI
lanes the sort of Zebedee, who had beer
slain. Va. Whether this was James the
son of Alpheus, called also James the Less
one of the apostles; or whether he was
James the Just, the brother of our Lord
is a question. Unto another place.
Where we do not know. The peril o.
death was so imminent that he evidently
decided it to be his duty to conceal him
self.
lS. "Was day." Peter was not missed
until sunrise-about six o'clock. 1t was II
the fourth watch, sometime between three
and six o'clock, that the angel entered the
10. Examined the keepers" Triee
them fer breach of discipline. He
Herod. "And there abode" But not long
for in less than a month he died in hor
rible manner. VS.. 2l-23.
vikings Drinking Cup.
Near Haroldswick, on one or INT
cbotIopd Islands an ancient drinking