Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-04-01
PETER DELIVERED
FROM PRISON

verse I.
GOLDEN TExr.-"The angel Of the
Lord encampeth round abour them that
fear him, and delivereth them."-Psaim
TIME.-'rhe Passover feast t''she days
OF unleavened bread" verse -. April is,
A. d. a. Herod had left his capital.
Caeaarea. and was in Jerusalem for the
feast
PLACE--JerusaIem--th fortress OF An
tonia. and the home of Mary, the mother
OF John Mark,
RuLERs.--Hero Agrippa l.. king OF
all Palestine. the realm of Herod the
Great. his grandfather lie was " years
old. clsudlus. Roman emperor, A. d.
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, oppress.
which IL the meaning "vex" bore in
old English. As a climax, he killed
James the brother OF John with the
sword" by beheading. "a mode of
death regarded as very diagraceful
among the Jews."-Expositor's Greek
Testament.
v. 4-"When he 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 So.
credneEs OF the season. and so gave
Herod's officers opportunity to arrest
him."-Rendall.
The power Of prayer, that twas
made without ceasing (stretched out,
either in time or intenslty-either
ceaselessly or earnestly ~ the r. v.
translates ~ Of the church unto God
for him" The central meeting place
". l2) was the house of Mary, the
mother of John Mark-that Mary who
wrote the gospel. and went on Paul's
FIRST missionary journey with his cou.
sin Barnabas. HE may appear, name
less, in Mark I4:5l."-Prof. H. p.
Forbes. There the Christians. going
In relays during the Passover, kept up
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 Is precluded or I'M
khA ~ Ill affN
mainsl"-John Foster. We do not use
this power half enough. or believe in
1t half rs 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
causes delay in the answer to our
prayers-to test our faith and
strengthen our characters by the en-
durance OF afilctlon. This waiting.
and the bearing of trouble, teach us
patienceI courage. hopefulneas, cheer
fulness and faith. What school has q
nobler curriculum?
Peter was sleeping quietly. like
L
ali his foes pursued him. For 40 he
giveth his beloved Sleep" or I'm their
sleep" (Psa 127:3.) Il was In the
last watch Of the night. between three
and six o'clock, for Peter was not
missed ut 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 himl---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" Kebie, in
hia poem on the subject. suggests that
Peter may have baen dreaming of his
| coming execution, and may have
thought this stroke was his summons
20 IT, What a blessed change! Proba-
| bly, the same ztFoke served also to
strike on the chains that bound Peter
20 the soldiers. who were held in q
profound slumber.
v. She was hidden: sGird thy.
seIs," that Is. bind hts tunlc (iong un-
dergarmentl with the girdIe; for orr.
entails do not change their dress when
they so 70 rest. but merely loosen It.
Over this eunfc he was 70 throw his
garment" the outer clpak or mantle.
RE was TO bind on his sandals" or
wooden solas. rthe shoes OF the poor. +"
Then he followed the angel. but 'wist''
Thought, from the same root as wisel
Il was all dream Peters incre-
duiity az to the occurrence witnesses
70 its reality. Burreli.
Note that Peter was hidden 10 do
what he could; II was not all done for
him. Thus II was human muselee
that rolled the stone from the grave
/ Of Lasarus. I'm the heart Of every
miracle we ind these human powers
employed. That Is tho spiritual aide
OF the old proyerb that God helps
those who help themselves. REV, @.
/ n. Morrison