The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-10
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR MAY II
PETER DELIVERED FROM
PRISON.
Acts, XII, lie.
BY REV. J. r.. GILBERT, d. D.
Secretary Of American Society Of Religious
Education.

| 1NTRODCCT1ON.--The earliest prosecutions Of
| the Christians were instigated by the Jcwisl,
hierarchy. But IN the year ~ A. d. the civil
authorities were enlisted in the same cruel hos.
| tility. Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the
Great. received from the emperor the tetrarohics
OF Philip and Lysanias, and, with the title Of
king. was finally set ever tho whole territory
OF the Holy Land. A Roman by education and
an It',iinean by birth he had ambitions for extern
sivc power. From policy and from sentiments Of
| supcrstitios reverence lie was ardently attached
to the Jewish ceremonial. Naturally opposed
| TO faith that subversive of Judaism. and
| anxious TO conciliatc Jewish favor. he seized
| James, the brother Of John, and put him to
death by the sword. Verse 20 Thus this
apostle. who asked for a first place in Christ's
kingdom Clark y. $500. was the first after
| Stephen to endure mart,rdom.
! IMPRISONED. Finding that his course pleased
the Jews Verse 81, Herod apprclendcd Pcicr and
cast linn into prison, intending after Easter to
bring him fortlfto the people Verse ~ to suffer
| as they might direct. To make sure Of his
| prisoner he was bound with chains, and at night
| a soldier was placed on either side Of him.
CVcrses and 81 Nothing disturbed by these
| circumstances the apostle fell asleep. Rcmenl.
brance Of former dcliyerances (Acts v:22.2S) may
have encouraged him. The composure with
which this good man took his rest is a beautiful
! illustration of the simple faith Of those early
days, when men trusted in the experimenting
| care of an ever watchful Providence. (Psams.
cxxvii:2) It was the same heroic faith which
Daniel had in the den Of lions dan. v:lD.
which indeed characterized all the illustrious
men of Biblical times. NIeb., xi:J3)
NISlTED.--No good man meets trials alone
(Psalms. xxXiv:7) Though unseen help Is near
and when lie least expects, and by manner
which he could not have predicted, delivcrance
will come. Peter, sleeping in the prison. was
suddenly awakened. He found his room lighted
up and an angel standing near (veses Z md
81 Frequent mention is made in Scripture Of
celestial beings, who come at times to execute
punishment upon the wicked Gen, XiA:D and at
other times to aid the righteous. OIcb.. i:ll.)
This visitor from the spirit world struck off
Peters chains and set him free Other instruc.
tions were quickly given, '.gird thyself." 'bnd
on thy sandals" least thy garment about
thee" "follow me''-irections pertaining only
to the proper adjustment Of the loose Oriental
apparel. which had been partly laid aside for the
night, but which must be restored Peter must
come out of the prison leaving nothing behind.
LIBERATED.-The soldiers slept on. knowing
nothing of what transpircd, supernatural sl'im.
bcr perhaps induced. Matt, Nxvii;:D. The
angel led the way ard Peter followed. hardly
aware what would bcfall him. Probably a
strange power a subtle spiritual influence, made
the one willing and oledient to the other. They
passed the first ward and the second without
difficulty At their approach tie iron that led
out into the street of the city opened OF its own
accord moved OIL its hinges by an unseen hand.
They passed through beyond the prison walls,
out into the liberty that belongs to righteous
men. And then, suddenly, the heavenly guide
gone, and the influence that lad passed ever
the apostle departed likewise. So gentle and
sweet and mighty was that influence that while
under its power Peter thought hc saw vision,
Us at Joppa. (tcts. iN:10). But now. standing
alone on the street. recalling what had happcucd.
he prccevod that the Lord had delivered him.
(Eerses to H.
PRAYING.--Al this time. even through the
night, the brethren had been praying (verse 81.
The death OF Stephen and of James had aroused
them to realization of the danger that con-
fronted them. They knew that on the morning
another apostles head might be severed by the
cruel flerod to gain the plautlits of the popu.
lace. a whole night Of prayer was in no wise
too great an effort 10 avert such a calamity.
They must have believed that their peadings
would avail. They did not belong to that modern
school who make the Almighty deaf and hard.
hearted II was in answer t" those prayers that
the angel was sent the same method by which
Christ declared lie might secure aid. tMatt,
Sxvi:530 Moving along the deserted streets the
liberated Peter guided his footsteps to one OF
those prayer meetings. then in progress in the
house of Mary, the mother OF Mark, who after.
ward became a companion of Paul (verse l2).
ASToNISITED.--P Prayer is an act of faith But
no prays fully believes. 1t is one OF the
peculiarities OF religious experience and practice
that men frequently ask God for what they do not
expect to receive Il Tim. i:S). Accordingly, the
good Father is constantly granting to His chill.
dren far beyond what they ask. (Eph, iii:20)
1t on this occasion. No one knows the
nature OF the prayers in Mary's house. Did the
brethren ask that Peter might bn sustained, or
that he might be released? This is certain, that
as he waited outside knocking. a dalnscl came 10
listen, and hastily returned to report his pres
cnce to the assembled suppcants. When, little
later, the door was opened. and he stood before
them, unframed, refreshed by the nights sleep,
they We're astonished. (Verses IL TO 49, Their
faith had not anticipated such speedy and mar.
yelous dcliverancc
Observation-Disclosures might easily aud
properly picture the scene the disciples gath.
cred about their recovered friend The demon.
STATIONS OF Joy and of affection mingled with ex.
pressions Of wonder, possibly with traces OF
doubt and superstition. for some thought Rhoda
had seen. not Peter, but his angel Verse l5)
Reprcssing any boistercus procedures, the apos.
tie rehearsed briefly the whole affair. The sol.
ders, tho chains, the prison, the supernatural
light. the angel visitor, the words OF instruction,
the holy influence, the safe conduct--all this was
told to attentive listeners as proof Of the Lords
presence and care, fuRment of His gracious
words of promise Clolm, xiv:sa).
DEPARTED. Out again into the night went
hp ali nj To ct,
or converse, or rejoice. Verse III Why did
he gos Was it under some prompting Of the
spirit or, was he urged by timid brethern who |
feared for his safetyg Did he hear some call to
duty, even like that which Philip had when |
he suddenly departed nom sanarias Where did
he go2 "To another place" the lesson dee larss
Many have vainIy specuated concerning the field |
chosen by Peter after his flight from Jerusalem. |
And this is the last said of him for some time /
in ecclesiastical history. A new center is form. |
ing. The chapter Of Jewish-Christian activity |
Will soon close and the work of the GENTLE |
Christian church with its headquarters at Antioch |
will be speedily opened under Paul. The delivered
Peter in his new home will become the con-
force between the extreme Jewish |
and radical Gentle sections OF Christianity. |
CoNCLt SiON.-The great theme Of the lesson |
Is deverancc. The leader OF the APOSTLE col. |
lego is saved from the sword by direct and mir |
aenlols intervention. Not that he might remain !!
in Jerusalem, the head OF the church thero. but |
that he might go forth into a new field to 10 |
a new work, OF which no record is made. lie |
lives to labor in obscurity Does any one lie. |
lieye that the servant Of God dies before his |
mission is accomplished? Are enemies let |
loose to destroy him who is in the path of duty?
The same apostle declared TO the contrary q |
Peter, iiil3, in his epistle written fifteen years
after Bur spared life means renewed obliga ion
and sometimes charged opportunity. As we know