Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-02-20
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNGyS0l00L
LESSON
by REV z, b. FlTZWATER. d. D.,
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago,
Copyright, 1920. Western Newspaper Unionj
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY %
PETERS DELlVERANcE FROM
PRISON.

LESSON TEXT-Acts l2:l-ls.
GOLDEN TE%T--The angel OF the Lord
encampeth round about them that fear
him, and delvereth them-Ps, 3i1.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALLY Kings
S:l7, Luke 22:39-46; Acts 1925, 20; Heb
LA; James jlG-lS.
PRIMARY TOPIC - How an Ange
Helped Peter.
JUNIOR ToPlC-Peter Delivered From
Prison.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Prayer Helps
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Things Wrought by Prayer
|. Peters Imprisonment wv 1-D.
|. by whom ". u. llerod, the
grandson Of the wicked llerod who
slew the innocent children nj Bethle
hem.
.. The reason ". ~. II was to gain
the favor of the Jews. lIerod was not
jew, and therefore knew that MS
success was dependent upon having
the good will of the Jews. lie did moi
particularly hate the Church. but loved
popularity. llerod, for the sake OF
popularity. assumed deep sympathy
for degenerate Judaism. Since tW
Church had developed into II success
ful rival Of Judaism-indecd was al
ready dlsplacing lt-he saw I'm oppor
tunity 10 curry favor with the Jews b.
putting his hand forth against II.
3. The method ", ~. Peter was ar
rested put into prison and guarded ny
four quaternlOns of soldiers. qua
ternion is n guard of four soldiers on
duty at the same time. Four quater'
Mons meant that special group was
on duty each watch Of the night. II
was the custom for two soldiers TO be
In the prison. one on each side OF the
prisoner. bound to his arms WIN
chains ". 81. The third one to watch
outside the door and the fourth 70 nc
near the outside gate. lluman!y
speaking it was impossible TO escape
However, they made one fatal ms
take; they left out God
u. The Church OF God In Prayer
", -.
The Church was In a 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 is very COM
mon fault today. All true prayer Is
unto God.
.. 1t was united prayer, II was
made by the Church. God hears the
prayers of individuals. but there is
peculiar power In the united prayer
of Gods people.
g. II was an intensely earnest
prayer. II was more than unceasing
prayer; II was the yearning desire of
the soul as 1t stretched itself out to-
ward God
4. 1t was definite prayer. They spe-
officially interceded for Peter. Their
was concentrated, definite and
specific.
~. Peter Delivered by an Angel
wv. GID.
This occurred the night before Her
DDS plan to make public display OF
him.
|. Peter sleeping w. g. The angel
found Peter asleep. The Lord keeps
In perfect peace those whose minds
are stayed on him lisa. 90 ~. Again,
he gives his beloved sleep psalm
127:l).
.. Peter leaving the prison tvv. 7-10).
The heavenly light shone in the prison.
The angel smote Peter on the side,
the chains fell off, 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 w. 1D. Al
though the event was so wonderful to
Peter, and AZ first he thought II
vision, when he came to himself he
was assured beyond peradventure of
doubt that God had miraculously de-
livered him from Herod's wicked
hands.
w. Unconscious Unbellef wv. 12-19).
|. The behavior of Peter and the
Church (vv. PAD. Peter went to
the house of Mary and knocked. The
knock was answered by Rh0da. who
was so overjoyed on hearing Peters
voice that she forgot to open the gate
and ran In and told them that Peter
was at the gate. The disciples were
not prepared for such good news and
even accused her of madness. I'm
daunted. she insisted. They offered as
an explanation that perhaps II might
be Peters guardian angel In his like
ness. Peter reheGrsed unto them the
Lords dealing with him and instruct
cd them to make these things known
unto james and the bre .hren.
.. The behavior of the soldiers wv.
IS. 19). There was great agitation
among them over Peters disappear
auce. This was serious matter.
since they were responsible for him.
Not being able TO account for Peters
escape, Herod commanded that they