Evening star., 1925-06-20

Missionaries in China have cabled
their boards requesting earnest
prayer in this crisis" Christian his
tory has demonstrated the efficacy of
prayer in protecting Gods people in
every crucial hour. In the dramatic
experience, narrated by Luke in such
a graphic manner and with such de-
tail that 1t teaches it's own moral, we
have the record of how the unseen
God answered the prayers of His peo-
pie and delivered Peter from prison.
Herod Agirippa l was a grandson of
Herod the Great and had succeeded
once ruled over by his notorious and
bloody grandfather. When he was
made King and lived in the Holy
Land. he carefully observed all the
religious rites and ritualistic customs
of pharisaic Judaism. He did this
from political policy rather than reli-
gious conviction, for he lived among
the Gentiles like a Gentle.
Herod belonged to a bloody and
prosecuting family. He had attained
his throne and enlarged his domin.
power by appealing to the vulgar
prejudices of men. He saw that the
Christian faith was antagonized by all
the Sects of Judaism. In an effort to
court further favors from the conser-
vative leaders, Herod stretched forth
his hands to veX" in many ways the
work Of the Christians. The condi-
tfonS were more tragic than the
simple record suggests. 1t was an
hour Of bitter trial, due to the suffer
ing from famine, that called for the
collection Of relief funds, when Herod
started prosecuting the Christians.
When Herod unsheathed the sword of
the state in opposition to ChriStia nifty,
he opened controversy that was des-
tined to last for three centuries. He
had one of the leading preachers,
James, the son of Zebedee, executed.
When he observed it's popularity with
the religious authorities, Herod had
Peter arrested and imprisoned. The
death sentence was passed upon this
aggressive and foremost apostle, but
Its execution was delayed until the
close of the Passover festivities.
Peter Imprisoned.
During the sacred week no execu-
tfons could occur. They guarded him
very carefully so that at the end of
the week he could be brought before
the multitude as condemned prison
er to meet his death. Herod had not
considered the Lord and His plans to
use Peter in connection with His
church's development. He gave Peter
peace so that he slept while four qua
ternions of soldiers watched to prevent
a second escape. The church aroused
by the danger sought aid from God in
prayer. In response to their petitions,
we have a description Of how Peter
was delivered. The great apostle hay-
ing put his trust in his Lord was not
expecting any such deliverance. Ap-
parently he was under the control of
Herod, but the prayers of the church
had reached an unseen power, who
proved that He would not allow the
State to determine the spiritual life
Of His church or to control the life
of His servants.
We have a statement of the details
Of Peters rescue, because when the
apostle understood the matter. he
realized from the details the intention
of the Lord. When the angel, or
messenger Of God, who had accom-.
plished the impossible, left Peter in
a sort of daze, the apostle evi.
IDENTIFY had not realized the signifi.
cance Of the events as they followed
one after the other. 1t was after
considering them that "He knew of a
truth that the Lord had sent His mes
senger and delivered him out of the
hand of Herod, and from the expecta.
ton of the Jews" There are three
supernatural incidents in connection
with this marvellous rescue that has
! kept some from obtaining the help
, they ought to gain from believing it.
The narrative has all the marks of
being truthful. Luke probably re.
ceived 1t from Peter, who told him
| of his bewiiderment and how by con.
sidering all the facts, he came to be.
lieve that God had life, but like Peter
we can detect Gods hand removing
| numberless obstructions, overwhelm.
| ing opposition and mastering insur.
mountable difficulties by doing the
| impossible.
Christians Encouraged.
1t did not take Peter long to make
up his mind where to go. He turned
his steps toward the home Of Mary
the mother Of Mark. who later WAS