THE KING’S BUSINESS
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“ an” as in the Revised version, for so it is in the Greek text. “ The Angel o f the Lord” is a definite, person, as we have seen in previous lessons, ^and none other than our Lord Jesus Himself. Into that we cannot go now, further than to say “ the Angel o f the Lord” never appears after the birth of, Christ. Though we-find the expression “ the angel o f the Lord” in the Authorized Version it is always a mis translation. The angel mentioned in this verse was very unceremonious, “he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him.” Sharp blows are often more loving than gentle lullabys. It is frequently necessary to wake a man up before he can be delivered. Poor, tired Peter may have needed sleep, but he needed deliverance more, and it was a mercy to wake him up, though it took a sharp blow to do it. v. 8 . “And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals: and so he did (and he did). And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and fol low me.” Peter had gotten so much in the habit o f obeying God that he did it even in his sleep, or at least when he was not more than half awake and thought he was asleep. He wasted no time in debating with the angel as to whether his commands were rational, they did not seem so. It was well for him that he did not debate either with himself or the angel whether it was a vision or reality, but.went right along and did just as the Lord’s messen ger bade him. It is well to note that while the angel woke him up and caused his chains to fall off and the doors to open before him, that Peter was left to do for himself what he could do,'viz., put on his shoes and cast his garment about him. God does not do for us supernaturally what we can naturally do for ourselves. God is gracious, but grace does not put a premi um on laziness. vs. 9, 10. “And he went out, and fol lowed him (omit, him), and (add, he) wist not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision, (add, And) 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 (its) own accord: and they went out and passed on through one street, and forthwith (straightway) the angel departed from him.” If Peter had been like many o f us he would have stopped long before he got to the iron gate, and debated how they were to get through it. But he had more sense and did just as he was told and left the how with God. It was not until he actually reached the gate that the gate opened before him. If, instead o f stopping and dreading difficulties from a distance, we would march right up to them we would find them moving out o f the way when we reached them. If we- just obey God all difficulties will disap pear when we get to them, and oftentimes not until we do get to them. The angel led Peter no further than he needed his guidance, but when they reached the place where Peter could look out for himself the angel disappeared. That is God’s uni form method. v. 11. “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety (truth), that the Lord hath sent forth His angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." _ God answers prayer, God does wonderful things in answer to prayer, but above all He is always ready to deliver His people in time of trouble if they call upon Him (Ps. 50:15). Herod’s hand was. mighty, the mightiest hand in all the land, but it was not difficult for the Lord to deliver Peter out o f that mighty hand. The strongest hand on earth is utterly weak when God puts forth His hand. And God still sends forth His angels to minister in behalf o f those who are heirs, o f salvation (Heb. 1:13, 14). It may be true that we have never seen an angel, but that does not prove they do not exist or that they do not work. We have seen the results o f their work. None o f us ever saw the wind, but we all enjoy the benefits o f the wind’s blowing. The remainder of the story is full o f interest and if there is
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