Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-04-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY By THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Acts XII, Ill.
Memory Verses, 11-G0lden Text,
Ps. XXXIV, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.


IL the words ''about that time" of
verse / refer TO the last four verses OF
the previous chapter. then 1t was about
the time that Barnabas and Saul were
In Jerusalem with the financial help
from the believers at Antioch for the
saints at Jerusalem. This would APP
pear to be so from the last verse OF our
lesson chapter, so that we may think
of Barnabas and Saul being at the
prayer meeting I'm the house OF Mary.
who was sister to Barnabas Verse II;
Col. Nv, 1O). How often the first words
OF Gen. iii. i, come TO us as we read
the Bible story or the story OF the
world In the daily papers or our own
life story? Now the serpent" for we
are reminded by Peter that our adver-
sary. the devil. walketh about seeking
whom he may devour IL Pet. v, 81.
Satan himself confessed to the Lord
that it was his custom TO go to and
fro In the earth and walk up and down
In 1t Job 1. Z; II. y. Paul tells us that
our conflict is not so much with what
we see as with the invisible powers Of
darkness. and therefore we need the
whole armor OF God tEph. vi. 1918.
Herod was good servant OF the
devil and did quite bit Of work for
him when he killed James and put
Peter In prison verses 1-3). On that
last night ere our Lord was crucifed.
He told His followers that they might
and even killed for His sake and would
surely have tribulation John xvi. /. 2.
49, From heaven He sent word. after
He had been some time there, that the
devil would cast some OF them into
prison, but being faithful. even II they
died for 1t. there would be great re-
ward (Rev. ii. 10). James. being killed,
had the gain, the far better. absent
from the body present with the Lord.
the rest from labor. while Peter being
only imprisoned remained still where
the devil could reach him II the Lord
should permit. Many. however. would
prefer the prison 10 being killed. As
far as soldiers were concerned. Peter
seemed to be well guarded. with no
possibility OF escape. but how often He
that stitch In the heavens laughs at
the schemes OF men when they take
counsel against Him. Fps. ii. -
The believers prayed without ceas
ing 10 God for Peter. but there seemed
to be no answer until the very night
before Peter was 10 tie brought forth.
probably for execution. The Lord may
seem TO delay. but when lie purposes
TO do thing He Is never too late
Heaven heard. and the angel came.
Peter was asleep chained TO two sol.
diers, and other two kept the door OF
the prison. How perfectly fascinating
TO see an angel work. Soldiers and
doors and prison walls are no hind
rance. The prison Is entered; the an
gel awakens Peter; the chains fall
Off. Peter puts on some clothing by
the aid OF the light from the angel
and follows his guide, gates and doors
opening before them Of their own ac-
cord, until Peter Is at least one street
away from the prison. thinking II all
O beautiful dream or vision.
The angel having fulfilled his COM
mission, went back TO heaven. Blessed
ed ministry and, oh, how wonderful!
The God OF Israel doeth wondrously.
Peter soon came TO himself and knew
that he had been in very deed deliv-
cred by a messenger from heaven who
never waited to be even thanked for
his great kindness. They serve gen.
orally unseen and always unthanked
What allied the soldiers? Was 1t a
sleep from the Lord. as In Sam. XVI
u. or a special blindness, as In III
Kings vi, Is Well, 1t was a deliv-
erance from the Lord, and nothing Is
too hard or wonderful for Him. tier
xxi, 10 When Peter realized that
he was really free and that It was
neither dream nor vision he went at
once to where he knew they would be
praying for him. But the damsel who
came to the door as he knocked. recog-
nizing Peters voice, was so glad that
she ran I'm without opening the door
and said that Peter was at the gate.
Instead OF thanking God for answered
prayer they told her that she was
mad or beside herself 1t looked as II
they were asking without expecting,
as we so often do. She continued to
affirm that she was right, and Peter
continued knocking, and when finally
they did open the door there he was
I'm very deed.
What hubbub they did makel How
they did talk! Did you ever hear any
thing like It after prayer meeting?
When they got real social, even though
many OF them could not speak In the
meetiDg-could not say a word for
Him who died for them. When Peter
got them quiet he told what had hap
pened and bade them tell the breth-
rem while he went 20 Caesarea, perhaps
to abide with Philip or Cornelius and
TO tell there OF this wonderful deliv-
erance. The chapter ends with the
death OF the keepers and also the death
OF Herod. An angel delivered Peter
and an angel smote Herod. They are
ready for errands OF mercy or OF judg-
ment. They delight TO do the viii OF
God The word of God grew and muI.