The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-02-20
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 22
PETERS DELivERANcE FROM
PRISON..

"bSStNs
LESSON TEXT-Acts 12:1-1o.
GOLDEN TExT-The angel of the Lord
sncampeth round about them that fear
him. and delivereth them.-Ps. A:7
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-II Kings
SIT; Luke 22:ss-46; Acts 1925. =: Heb.
l:14; James 5:16-18
PRIMARY TOPIC : How an Angel
JUNIOR ToPIc-Peter Delivered From
Prison.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Prayer Helps.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Things Wrought by Prayer.
I. Peters Imprisonment (vv. 1-4).
1. By whom ". ~. Herod, the
grandson of the wicked Her0d who
slew the innocent children at Bethle-
hem.
2. The reason ". 81. 1t was to gain
the favor of the Jews. Herod was not
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 deep sympathy
for degenerate Judaism. Since the
Church had developed into a success
full rival Of Judaism-indeed was al
ready displacing it-he saw an oppor-
tunity to curry favor with the Jews by
putting his hand forth against 1t.
3. The method ". ~. Peter was ar
rested, put into prison and guarded by
four quaternions of soldiers. A qua
ternion is 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. 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 w. 81. The third one to watch
outside the door and the fourth to be
near the outside gate. Humanity
speaking it 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 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:
1. 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.
2. 1t was united prayer. 1t was
made by the Church. God hears the
prayers of individuals. but there is
peculiar power in the united prayer
of Gods people.
3. 1t was an intensely earnest
prayer. 1t was more than unceasing
prayer; it was the yearning desire Of
the soul as II stretched itself out to-
ward God.
4. 1t was definite prayer. They spe-
cifically interceded for Peter. Their
prayer was concentrated. definite and
specific.
III. Peter Delivered by an Angel
wv. 6-11).
This occurred the night before Her
DDS plan to make a public display of
him.
/. Peter sleeping ". 81. The angel
found Peter asleep. The Lord keeps
in perfect peace those whose minds
are stayed on him lisa. % :3). Again.
he gives his beloved sleep (Psalm
127 :2).
2. Peter leaving the prison wv. 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.
8. The effect upon Peter ". 11). AL
though the event was so wonderful TO
Peter, and at first he thought 1t
vision. when he came to himself he
was assured beyond peradventure of
doubt that God had miraculously de-
Iivered him from Herod's wicked
hands.
w. Unconscious UnbeIief wv. 12-19).
1. The behavior of Peter and the
Church wv. 12-1D. Peter went to
the house of Mary and knocked. The
knock was answered by Rhoda, 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.
2. The behavior Of the soldiers (vv.
18, 19). There was great agitation
among them over Peters disappear
ance. This was a serious matter.
since they were responsible for him.
Not being able to account for Peters
escape. Herod commanded that they