Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-06-18
Peters Imprlsonment (vv. Id !.


IC--The Possibilities of Prayer
|. Peters Imprisonment wv. 1-4).
l. BY Whom ". -.
Herod, the grandson of the wicked
,Ierod who slew the innocent children
of Bethlehem
p The Reason ". 81.
. Ii was TO gain the favor of the Jews.
Herod was not Jew, but an Edomite,
therefore knew that his success was
dependent upon his having the good
will of the Jews He did not par
ticularIy hate the church, but loved
popularity. Since the church had de-
yeIoped so as to be a successful rival
Of Judism he saw an opportunity to
curry favor With the Jews by putting
forth his hands against 1t.
3. The Method (v d.
lie wits arrested, put into prison and
guarded by four quaternlons Of sol
diers. A quaterninion is a guard Of
four soldiers Fouuquasernions means
that d special group was on duty each
watch Of the night, Ii was the Gus
tom for two soldiers to be In the pris
on. one on each side Of Tire prisoner
hound to his arms with chains " O.
the third one to watch outside the daar,
and the fourth to be near the outside
gate
II. The Church Of God in Prayer
". -.
The church was at a crisis. Her sit
natfon was most grave. james, one Of
the brethren Of the church, WIS dead,
andePeter, the most prominent Of all,
was tn prison In this desperate strait
they did the wise thing they betook
themselves to prayer. II was a note
worthy prayer.
1. 1t Was Unto God, Not Unto Men,
or to BE Heard Of Men.
. II was United Prayer.
3. It Was an Intensely Earnest
Prayer
1t was more than unceasing prayer.
1t was the earnest desire Of the soul
as it stretched itself out toward God.
a. 1t Was Definite Prayer
They specifically offered prayer to
God for Peter. Their prayer was con
centrated definite and specific.
III. Peter Delivered by an Angel
(vv. GID.
This occurred the night before Her
DDS plan to make a public display of
him
l. Peter Sleeping " g..
The Lord keeps in perfect peace
those whose minds are stayed on Him
elsa. 2G 80.
3 Peter Leaving the Prison. ivy.
7-1o).
A heavenly light shone in the prison.
The angel smote Peter on the side; the
chains fell off. Peter put on his clothes
and passed by one guard after another
through the iron gate out into the city.
The whole transaction was orderly and
leisurely, showing that God is not in
hurry.
g. The Effect Upon Peter ". ~.
Although the matter was so wonder
full to Peter. even outside his con
seriousness, when he came TO himself
he was assured beyond a peradyenture
that God had miraculously delivered
him from Herod's wicked hands.
~. Unconscious UnbeIief wv. -
19).
l.. The Behavior of Peter and the
Church wv. 12-17).
Peter went to the house of Mary and
knocked The knock was answered by
Rhoda who was so overjoyed that She
forgot to open the gate, and ran in and
told them that Peter was at the gate.
The disciples We're not prepared for
such good news, and even accused her
Of madness. She, undaunted. insisted
They offered as an explanation that
perhaps it might be Peters guardian
angel in his likeness. Peter rehearsed
unto them the Lords dealing with
him, and instructed them to make
these things known unto James and
the brethren.
2. The Behavior Of the Soldiers (vv
1917. @ssgs~--s-,..
There was great agitation among
them as to What had become of Peter
This was serious matter since they
We're responsible for him. Not being
able TO account for Peters escape,
Herod commanded that they be put to
death. After this Herod went down to
Caesarea. Here he was adored as
god. Because he arrogated this honor
to himself the Lord smote him. Herod
died, but the Word of the Lord grew
and multiplied.