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February, 1939
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
iour, He comes into the heart, filling it with light, and causes it to shine in this dark world. No matter what the color of the skin may be, people in every land can let their lights shine for Christ. When Peter obeyed God’s command and went to Cornelius, a Gentile, he had the joy of seeing Cornelius and his household shining for Christ.
ness. This candle burns as brightly as the others do. Here is a candle representing the In dian people who often are spoken of as having "red" skins. Many believe that the Indians are hopeless in their many forms of idolatry, but this candle burns brightly, just like the others. When a person accepts Christ as Sav
The angel led Peter out until Peter could go his way alone. Then the angel disap peared, and Peter came "to himself,” and knew that his experience was not a vision, but a living reality. W e can see here the economy of God. What man cannot do for himself, God will do; but what man can do, God allows him to do. III. T he A ssured D isciples (12-17) Being left alone, Peter immediately found his way to the house where the saints were at prayer, the house of Mary, mother of John Mark. He knocked, and Rhoda an swered. The following verses give ground for the belief that the disciples were not praying for Peter’s release, but for his peace. When the girl told them that Peter was at the door, they said, first, that she was mad. When she insisted it was he, they said, "It is his angel.” They doubtless thought that Peter already had been slain. But Peter continued knocking, and when they let him in, he told them what had be fallen him. Thus the disciples were as sured more than ever that there was a liv ing God, a prayer-hearing and a prayer- answering God, with them and for them. Believers today have the same assurance. Points and Problems 1. "But prayer was made " (Acts 12:5). This is the most important part of the whole story. When “prayer is made,” kings die, prisons open, chains fall, and soldiers are helpless. Let us not forget the “prayer," especially when we consider the direction in which nations and rulers are today mad ly plunging. 2. "When Herod would have brought him forth, the same night . . .” (v. 6). Peter had been in the prison for some time, and doubtless many in the church had been wondering about the outcome. But God is in no hurry. He waited until the last moment, when it seemed that all was lost, when the king had actually set the time for Peter’s death; “the same night” the divine Hand began to work. Let us not grow impatient if deliverance seems to tarry, if prayer seems to go unanswered. For it always comes in time to accomplish the perfect will of God. 3. "Peter was sleeping" (v, 6 ). This is not the first time that Peter slept. He slept on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk. 9:32), and again in the Garden of Geth- semane (Matt. 26:40), when he should have stayed awake. In contrast, the pres ent instance indicates that Peter’s danger ous situation has not worried him much, a mark of one who has committed his troubles into the hand of the Lord. . 4. "Between two soldiers" (v. 6). Verse 4 tells us that Herod had delivered Peter to “four quaternions of soldiers.” Each quaternion was composed of four sol diers, and each group of four took one of the four watches into which the night was divided, so that there were four soldiers on guard constantly. Two of the four were chained to Peter and slept with him in the cell (v. 6 ). And the other two evi dently were on guard outside, for verse 10 tells of how the angel and Peter passed "the first and the second ward” on their way out.
MARCH 12, 1939 PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON A cts 12:5-17
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping be tween two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he'Went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one( street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she' constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he. beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Golden Text: “Prayer was made with out ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5). Devotional Reading: Psa. 34:1-8. Outline and Exposition I. T he D anger (5, 6) H EROD had slain James and he in tended, after Easter, to slay Peter also. In the meantime Peter was kept in prison. But there were unseen forces, and to these the disciples appealed on Peter’s behalf: "Prayer was made with out ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Each of these words is potent with meaning. They indicate the operation of three great powers: Satan, who controls the world” (John 14:30); God, who con trols Satan, and prayer that lays hold of the power of God and defeats Satan. The prayer was earnest, literally, "stretched-out-ly” (cf. Lk. 22:44). In such prayer the disciples were engaging in the fight of faith. The rest of faith is concerned with the believer’s position, but the light of faith is concerned with the believer’s practice in that position. In the case relating to Peter’s delivery, it was
united prayer that was offered, for which there are special promises (cf. Matt. 18:19, 20; Rom. 15:30; Phil. 1:19; 1 Thess. 5:17). Moreover, it was prayer “unto God.” It is well, especially when one is praying with others present, to allow the question, “Am I really speaking to God" to penetrate the the consciousness. If this rule were fol lowed, less information would be given to God concerning things with which He is quite familiar! Eurthermore, the prayer was definite; it was “for him,” that is, Peter. Probably the disciples, remembering Peter’s former fall because of fear, were praying that his faith would not fail, that he would be sustained and enabled by grace to go through martyrdom without bringing any disgrace upon the name of the Lord before the unbelievers. Moreover, while they might not have known so-called church truth, yet they knew the principle that “whether one member suffer all the mem bers suffer with it” (1 Cor. 12:26), and they were suffering in Peter’s suffering. Lastly, the prayer was persistent. They kept at it day and night while Peter was in the prison. The words, “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,” reveal that prayer was being answered. Peter was being supplied with the peace for which his friends prayed. II. T he D eliverance (7-11) The angel had to smite Peter to awaken him, but immediately Peter obeyed. It is a grand thing when, even in a supposed dream, a man will instantly obey the com mand of the Lord. Peter found his chains loosened, girded himself, put on his sandals, and followed the angel—still thinking it was all a mere vision. Through the passages of the prison, past the first and the second wards, the ángel led him, until they came to the iron gate that opened the way to complete freedom. The gate did not open until they arrived before it, and then it opened miraculously of itself. He that cometh to God must be lieve that nothing is too hard for Him, and must declare, “I know that thou canst do all things” (Job 42:2, R. V .). BLACKBOARD LESSON
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