Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-11

Peters imprisonment was due to
the desire Of Herod Agrippa to gain
popularity with the conservative re-
ligious leaders Of Jerusalem. In the
first persecution, the Sadducces, who
were annoyed by the popularity Of
Peter and his ministry. tried in vain
to check, curb. and control the work
of the apostle following the healing
of the lame man. They failed to
crush the spirit of the apostles when
they arrested them latter, due to the
courage Of Peter and the position
taken by Gamaliel. The persecution
that resulted in the death OF stephen
had united both the Sadducees and
Pharisees. but ended with the con-
version of Saul Of Tarsus.
Herod belonged to a family noted
for attaining their ends by cruelty
and murder. Their record is stained
by the blood Of innocent children and
all who stood in their pathway or
opposed their program. During his
residence in Rome, where he finished
his education, he was a close friend
of Claudius. Through that influence
and with desire on the part OF
Claudius to pay off some gambling
debts he owed Herod, the Inflated
ruler had attained his appointment
and authority as ruler in Palestine
He also conferred upon him the priyi-
lege of appointing the high priest.
Although a man of dissolute habits
and companion in every sort of vice
with the Emperor during his student
DAYS in Rome, when he returned to
Jerusalem Herod, according to jose
phus, was exactly careful in the OBJ
servance of the laws of his country.
He therefore kept himself entirely
pure, nor did any day pass over his
head without its appointed sacrifice"
He acted the part of hypocr1te IN
reference to religion with a desire to
increase his popularity with the Jew.
ish people and strengthen his power
as q king. If he had been a real
convert to Judaism. he would never
have put on the glittering garments
of silver when he set up his throne
in Caesarea and received the homage
to him as a god, which resulted in
his untimely death. He was the man
who tried to secure more popularity
from the Jewesh leaders by vexing
the church. He found that by kill
ing the Apostle James, he had gained
their favor, and he proposed to fur.
Their intrench himself by arresting
Peter and putting him to death at
the close of the passover period. He
had left God out of his calculations.
Peters Peril Overcome by Prayer.
Peters imprisonment aroused the
church to the apostles danger. They
knew that Herod would not attempt
ANYTHING during the Passover, but the
way the King had ordered that he be
kept in prison demonstrated to them
| that Herod was planning to execute
| him, Just like he had James. so they
| TONED in earnest, united prayer upon
| his behalf, just as we should now for
| the missionaries who face the peril of
religious persecution in China, Mexico,
Rumania, Russia and other lands to-
| day. ,
: greatest power conferred upon men Is
the privilege OF prayer; II Herods
efforts to wipe out the leaders of the
early church were defeated through
the united prayers of the Christians
assembled in Jerusalem, we ought to
he encouraged to make known our
wishes to our Heavenly Father. The
deliyerance Of Peter belonged to God,
but the believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ pleaded earnestly upon behalf
of Peter. Have we prayed with the
same fervor and faith that the Lord
would reveal His power and save the
imperiled missionaries and Christians
| in all lands where they face the perils
of persecution? Have we remembered
at the throne of grace the multitudes
whose lives, homes and property are
| in danger of being lost through the
onward i Hssch .,. Ct The naisR1E &aaa1a