Arizona republican., 1916-04-29
International Sunday School Lesson
 for April 30
PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON
Golden Text.-"The angel of Jeho-

Lesson TeHt-Ac l2: l-l9. Com mt V. II.
 : CD Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. @ And he | killed James the brother of John with the sword. (3) And because he saw it pleased the Jews. he proceeded fur ther to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened breadD (D And when he had apprehended him. he put him in prison and delivered him to four quarternions of soldiers 70 keep him. intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people (5) Peter therefore was kept in prison: bot prayer was made without cea sing Tf the church unto God for him C6) And when Iierod would have brought him forth, the sar1e night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. bound with two chains: and the keepers be- fore the door kept the prison. @ And. ] behold. the angel of the Lord came ipon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up. saying Arise up quickly And his chains fell off ] rom his hands (S) And the angel said unto him, Gird myself. and bind l on thy sandes: and so he did And i he saith unto him. Cast thy garment about thee. and follow me (a) And ] he Went ont. and followed him: and i. Wist not that it was true which was : 'lone by the angel; but thought he i saw a vision. (l0) When they were 1 past tie first and second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them l of his own accord: and they went out and passed on through one street: and forthwith the angel departed from him. uD And when Peter was come to himself. he said, Now I know of a surety, tha. tre Lord hath sent. his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod. and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. Time.-A. n. A. Plsce-Jerusalem. Gxposition-I Peter imprisoned the church praying unto Cod l-5. There had been d lull in the persecu- ton of the church (ch c: 3D. but it had proved but temporary When the persecution began again. it began with great fierceness: James was Killed and Peter arrested in order that he might be killed. The actual slay ing Of Peter was postponed because his arrest was during the Jewish holy week. and while they were perfectly Willing to kill good man. they were not willing to defile their feast days Peter seemed 10 be in a very peril ous. indeed. in a hopeless position securely locked ard chained in Ro- ma1 prison. guarded by 1e soldiers bound by each wrist to soldier Bu Peters enemies had left God cut O their calculations. and there is moth ing too hard for the Lord:" nor fo the church that links itself to God h, prayer IL is now the very last night the next day Peter is to be jed ou n execution. God often withhold : His deliverapces and His answers L prayer until the last moment. Wha can the church do? only one thing pra'-. and pray they did. They ap realed the case from "Herod th &ing'' to God the king of kings. Peter seems to have had faith that h would he delivered. for he was sleep ing a'mly and very soundly. and fur thermore. just as soon as hA wa thoroughly awakened he said "NoW know of 9 truth that the Lord hat sent His angel just as I had bee asking Him to do) and delivered mo There ate four things to notice ahol he prayer that brought such gre; things 10 pass. for they teach us ho Co pray so as to get just what N ask. GD II was unto Cod. TT prayer that gets an answer is tl prayer trats really unto God" Nuc "o-called prayer is not really un God: though we use Gods name
 offering the praVer there is no re coming into Gods presence and actl ally presenting our petition unto Hin (21The prayer was made "witho ceasnc. The R. V. says earnestly the F. Y gives the thought. but il rot as strong as the original. IT Creek word means literally "stretche outedly. Ii is a lividly pictoral wor Pnd represents a soul on stret with intensity of desire. "Intensel would come nearer giving the force
 the Greek word than earnestly"
 is the word used of Christ's prayer
 the garden when in the intensity
 His prayer His sweat was as
 were great drops of blood fall
 GoNn 10 the ground" nu 22: 1 Ron l5: 90: Col. 1: r. 1$. R. VI. IL was made of the church. tn is il was united prayer. There
 power in the prayer of an indiviGu
 hut there is added power. yes null
 piled power in united prayer tM
 IS: l9, 20: Ac 1 n: 1: 24. 3n. lt was for him that Is. if was dc mite prayer The prayer that gets
 definite answer iS inc prayer that
 for the definite tIing.
 II Prayer Al',wtred. Peter Err
 6-1i. An Angel of the Lord sto by him and light siircd ir { cell pTiscn cell is dark q
 dismal place. but no p.ac2. is mo !"minnus than a prison "e when
 Angel of the Lord star'os thc
 Prayer has brought heaveni,- l2lt to many prison cell. Gods an. was very unceremiDious. He smC
 sharp blows are often more lovi
 than gentle lulabys. It is frequen
 necessary to wake a man up befs
 fe can be delivered. Poor. tired Pc
 may have needed sleep. but he need
 sleep. but he needed deliverar