Mexico Missouri message., 1909-04-08
PETER DELIVERED
FROM PRISON
Sunday SshsOl Lessen fss Apsil II, 1909
Specially Arranged for hi, PAPER
Specially AnanEsd for mis- Papsr

kofu eucufnuein Found hOout tnom NhAN
fear him. and deiiveroth them."-Psnlm
SAT-
TIME.-The Passover feast C''ths days
OF unleavencd bread" verse ~. April is.
A. D. a. Herod had left his capital.
Caesarea, and was in Jerusalem for the
feast.
PLAcE.-Jerusaiem-t fortress Of An
tonia, and the homo Of Mary. the mother
OF John Mark.
RULERs.-He Agrippa l.. king OF
all Palestine. the realm OF Herod the
Great. his grandfather. He was 81 years
old. Ciaudius, Roman emperor, A. d.
Elsa
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
During our last lesson and this from
four to six years have elapsed. During
that time have occurred the founding
of the great GENTLE church at Antioch
and the calling thither OF Barnabas
from Jerusalem and Paul from Tarsus.
The famine, and the famine relief sent
to Jerusalem from Antioch.
v. HE "vexed" the church. The
Greek means to torment. Cypress,
which is the meaning "vex" bore in
old English. AS a climax. "he killed
James the brother OF John with the
sword" by beheadlng, "a mode OF
death regarded as very disgracefui
among the Jews."--Expositor' Greek
| Testament.
v. 4--"when no had apprehended
him." There had been some delay and
difficulty in arresting Peter. "Proba-
bly, Peter had concealed himself after
the execution OF James, but ventured
forth to the feast relying on the sa-
oredness OF the season. and SO gave
Herod's officers opportunity to arrest
him."-Rendall.
The power OF prayer. that was
made without ceaslng (stretched out,
either in time or lntensity-either
ceaselessly or earnestly as the r. v.
translates ~ OF the church unto God
for him." The central meeting place
". 12) was the house OF Mary, the
mother of John Mark-that Mary who
wrote the gospel. and went on Pauls
FIRST missionary journey with his cou-
sin Barnabas. "He may appear, name.
less, in Mark 14:51."-Prof. II. p.
Forbes. There the Christians. going
In relays during the Passover, kept up
q continual duplication for the release
Of their beloved leader, and, doubtless.
that he might be upheld in his suffer
ings, and the cause OF Christ prospered
whatever might be the outcome.
Intercessory prayer-"How happy
that In all extremities, and when every
other expedient Ia precluded or un-
availing. the greatest OF all still re-
mains!"-John Foster. We do not use
this power half enough. or believe In
Il half al strongly as we should.
Peter was In prison TIL near the
close Of the Passover. when Herod
would have brought him forth"
Peter was not released earlier by the
angel for the same reason that often
prayers--to test our faith and
strengthen our characters by the en-
durance OF addiction. This waiting,
and the bearing of trouble. teach us
patience, courage. hopefulness. cheer
fulness and faith. What school has n
noblep curriculum?
Peter was sleeping quietly, like
David (Psa. $3.50 when Absalom, and
all his foes pursued him. For so he
giveth his beloved Sleep" OF I'm their
sleep" (Psa 127:2) Il was In the
last watch Of the night. between three
and six o'clock, for Peter was not
missed at three, when the guards were
changed again. In this darkest hour
| which Is Just before the dawn" an
"angel Of the Lord came upon him"
(stood by him)--a brilliant presence
radiating light which filled the cell.
Peter was sleeping so soundly that the
light did not wake him. and the angel
"smote Peter on the side" Keble, in
his poem on the subject, suggests that
Peter may have been dreaming of his
coming execution. and may have
thought this stroke was his summons
20 Il. What blessed changel Proba-
bly, the same stroke served also to
strike on the chains that bound Peter
to the soldiers, who were held in a
profound slumber.
1 v. She was hidden; "Gird thy
SELF" that IL, bind his tunic (iong un.
dergarmentl with the girdIe: for orr.
entails do not change their dress when
they go to rest. but merely loosen II,
over this tunie he was 70 throw HIS
garment" the outer cloak or mantle.
He was to bind on his sandals" or
wooden soIes. 'the shoes OF the poor. Is
Then he followed the angel. but twist"
Thought. from the same root as wise)
Il was all q dream. Peters incre-
dullty az TO the occurrences witnesses
70 It's reallty."-nurrell.
Note that Peter was hidden 10 do
what he could: Il was not all done for
him. Thus Il was human muscles
thar rolled the stone from the grave
Of Lazarus. in the heart Of every
miracle we and these human powers
employed That IL the spiritual side
OF the old proverb. that God helps
those who help themselves @,
n. Morrison.
| The guards lwards) were asleep. or
we're kept BY supernatural means from