The Arvada enterprise., 1920-02-19
MPIovID uMPoRn INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSQDO0L
LESSON
Wy REV. r. b. FlTZWATER, D. d,
!saeher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicaso.)
lCopyrtSht. 1890. Western Nswspapsr Union)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 22
PETERS DELivERANcE FROM
PRISON..

LESSON TExT-Acts l2:l-lS.
GOLDEN TEXT-The angel Of the Lord
sncampeth round about them that fear
him. and delivsreth them-Ps. N:7
ADDITIONAL MATERlAl~II Kings
s!!: Luke 2s:O-&s: Acts is:H. =: Heb
la%; James 6:l6-ls.
PRIMARY TOPIC - How an Angel
Helped Peter,
JUNIOR ToPlc-Pstsr Delivered From
Prison
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Prayer Helps.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Things Wrought by Prayer.
!. Peters imprisonment (vv. l-4).
l. BY whom ". ~. Herod. tho
grandson Of the wicked Herod who
slew the innocent children at Bethle-
hem.
2. The reason ". 81. 1t was to gain
the favor Of the Jews. Herod was not
q Jew. and therefore knew that his
success was dependent upon having
the good will Of the Jews. He did not
particularly hate the Church, but loved
popularity. Herod, for the sake Of
popularity, assumed a deep sympathy
for degenerate Judaism. Since the
Church had developed into q success
ful rival Of Judaism-indeed was al.
ready dIsplacinE it-he saw an OppOr-
tunity to curry favor with the Jews by
putting his hand forth against It.
8. The method ". ~. Peter was ar
rested. put into prison and guarded by
four quaterni0ns Of soldiers. A qua
terniOn is guard Of four soldiers on
duty at the same time. Four Quater
Mons meant that q special group was
on duty each watch Of the night. 1t
was the custom for two soldiers to be
In the prison. one on each side of the
prisoner. bound to his arms with
chains ". 81. The third one to watch
outside the door and the fourth to be
near the outside gate. Humanity
speaking 1t was impossible to escape.
However. they made one fatal mis-
take; they left out God.
u. The Church Of God In Prayer
". 81.
The Church was In q crisis; her sit.
uation was most grave. James. one Of
the pillars Of the Church. was dead.
and Peter. the most prominent of all.
was In prison. In this desperate strait
they did the wise thing; they betook
themselves to prayer. There is moth.
Ing too hard for God. Theirs was
noteworthy prayer:
!. 1t was unto God. not unto men to
be heard of men. This IL very COM
mon fault today. All true prayer Ii
unto God.
2. 1t was united prayer. II was
made by the Church. God hears the
prayers Of individuals. but there In
peculiar power In the united prayer
Of Gods people.
3. II was an intensely earnest
prayer. It was more than unceasing
prayer; It was the yearnink desire OF
the soul as II stretched itself out to-
ward God.
4. It was definite prayer. They spe-
cifcally interceded for Peter. Their
prayer was concentrated. definite and
specific.
~. Peter Delivered BY an Angel
wv. GID.
This occurred the night before Her
DDS plan to make Il public display Of
him.
I. Peter sleeping ". o.. The angel
found Peter asleep. The Lord keeps
In perfect peace those whose minds
are stayed on him lisa. 20 :3). Again.
he gives his beloved sleep NssIm
1877 :2).
9. Peter leaving the prison tvv. 7.lO).
TIE heavenly light shone In the prison.
The angel smotc Peter on the side.
the chains fell OF. Peter put on his
clothes. passed by one guard after an
other. through the iron gate out into
the city.
3. The effect upon Peter ". ~. Al.
though the event was NO wonderful to
Peter. and mt first he thought II u
vision. when he came to himself he
was assured beyond pcrnlventure Of a
doubt that God had mIrnculOusly de.
IIvere,i him from Herod's wicked
hands.
~. Uneonseious Unbsiisf (vv. I2.l0).
!. The behavior Of Peter and the
Church tvv. 12-11). Peter went 10
the house Of Mary and knocked. The
knock WAS answered by IthOdn. who
was WI 0verj0yed on hearing Peters
voice that she forgot to open the gnte
and run In md told them that Peter
wns NJ the gate.
.. The behavior Of the soldiers tvv.
IS. 1W. There was great ngitntlon
among them over Peters disappear.
nncc. This wns n serious mntter.
since they were responsible for him.
Not being able 10 account for Peters