The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-04-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and PuplIs
Edited BY Charles K. Meyers.
CRAWFORD cou MY SUN DAY
1CXooI. ASSOCIATION

8C1OOI A00OCxAVxVN
President ~. Sears McHenry. Denison
Sec. Treas ,Chas. X. Movers, Denison
Executive Committee
+. L. Hoffman, Denison; VIM. Lindberg,
Kiron: F.. l.. VanSlyke Manila; H. j..
Cook. Denison; Frank Woolston, Deni-
son; II. g. Virgins, Dow City.
0upsrinteudsnts.
Elementary Grades $1,000.
Secondary Grade, F. l.. Hoffman. Denison
Adult Department ..,.... ..5.........
............ Prof b j., Still. Manila
Home Department men !; u p;a,oa T;aa;:on
s ....'... Rev. !. e! Tourteiipt. Denison
ie"p...'M Miss Manetta jorsensen, Vail
missionary Department ,.l....... -.
....... Mrs. Anna Williams, DenisOn
April Both: Peter Delivered from Pri-
son. Acts: 12.1-19.
We have for our lesson this week,
one of the most interesting portions
OF the New Testament. The verses
read like story book While all is
we'll that ends we'll, yet the early
Christian church passed through d
great crisis in this lesson, and the
Christians of that day were fearful
that all would not end well for the be.
loved Peter and the cause which he
represented. Peter, the valiant lead.
er, was in prison, and the Roman rul.
or Herod, seeing that persecution. OF
the Christians was pleasing to the
Jews, had decided to put the prisoner
to death. On what was supposed to
be Peters last night in prison, he was
chained between two soldiers and the
keepers before the door guarded the
prison. 1t would appear from a hui
man point of view that Peter was doom
ed to death, as but short time be-
fore James. the brother Of John
had been put to death by the sword
on order, of HerOd.
It As an oft expressed thought that
mans extremity is Gods opportunity
The early Christians set an example
which has been followed thousands
of times since. OF meeting for prayer
and earnestly beseeching God to spare
Peters life. The record says: "But
prayer was made without ceasing ri
the church unto God for him." We
can but believe that there was earnest
direct prayer. We shall next consid
er In what manner their prayers were
answered.
The record tells us that as Peter
lay sleeping the angel of the Lord
appeared in the prisi0n and there was
q bright light. The angel smOte off
the chains and babe Peter gather his
garments about him and follow out !;
and soon they were in the streets of
the city. 1t seemed to Peter as if
It was dream from which he awoke
to find himself free on the streets
OF Jerusalem. He then realized with
joy that the Lord had given him spe-
cial deliverance from death and he
was greatly rejoiced.
Peter naturally beth0ught himself to
seek his fellow Christians, and so he
went at once to the home where the
prayers were being made. A stranger
could not have found the place, for
In the days of persecution, meetings
of Christians had to be held where the
watchful eyes of enemies would not
find them. Peter knocked at the door
and girl named Rhoda came to ans.
wer. She recognized the voice of Pc.
ter when he asked to be admitted,
but was SO overjoyed with the news
that she rushed back to the presence
of the praying band to tell it. They
were not prepared for such immediate