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stuck to it still. Her prayer o f faith counted more than all the rest. She was only a “maid” (v. 13, R. V .), but she is the only one in that praying company whose name the Holy Spirit has thought worth putting on record. There were, presum ably, present church dignitaries, very likely Mark was there, for it was his mother’s house, but Rhoda was there and she had faith, and she alone is counted and named. The unbelief o f the rest seems to be the more unaccountable when we remember how Peter had once before this been mirac ulously delivered from prison (cf. ch. 5:19). The truth is, they were just like us. But Peter kept right on knocking. That is the way to treat unbelief—just- keep hammering away. They must have looked quite foolish when Peter himself walked in, but oh how happy Rhoda was. They were now ready to lionize Peter, but he beckoned them to hold their peace qnd told them “ how the Lord had brought him' out o f the prison.” He turns attention from himself to Jesus. Herod seems to have left Judea in disgust and spleen because Peter had escaped from his hands (v. 19). OUTLINE (2 ) Prison and Deliverance, vs. 5-11. Was a prison a new place for Peter? Acts 4 :3 ; 5:18. How are the members o f the body affected when one member suffers? 1 Cor. 12:26. Were the saints fulfilling the Scripture injunction? Eph. 6:18-20; James 5:16. Did Peter know he was to die in defense o f the truth? John 21:18. What Scripture passages will enable men to go quietly to sleep? * Psa. 34:7-15; 2 Kings 6:16. What prayer may he have made? Psa. 142:6, 7. Do angels sometimes asstime the form o f men? Gen. 19:1; Matt. 1:20; John 20 : 12 .
time the teacher should go into the story with his class. Peter went to the very house where they were holding a prayer meeting in his behalf. Those engaged in prayer were startled by a knock at the door. Two things were especially notable about their conduct, the persistent unbelief o f the praying company as a whole, and the persistent faith o f Rhoda. Thd com pany had come together for the specific purpose o f praying for Peter’s deliverance. God, as might be expected,' heard the prayer and sent the answer around to the meeting. While they were yet speaking He had heard (cf. Isa. 65:24). But they were utterly bewildered, by the answer. They were sure it could not be so, and when Rhoda persisted in saying he was there they were sure she must be crazy. But in the face o f all their ridicule Rhoda maintained her position. Then they thought it must be “his angel.” Apparently they thought Peter had been executed during the night and that his ghost had come around to the meeting. But Rhoda had faith; she would not be moved by all their doubts and questions and theories, “she constantly affirmed that it was even so,” though, they told her she was crazy, she (1 ) Persecution and Death, vs. 1-4. Was Herod a logical descendant o f his grandfather, Matt.'2:16; and o f his .uncle, Matt. 14:3-12. Whose son was James? Matt. 4:21. What peculiar privileges had he enjoyed? John 15:15; Mark 1:29, 31; 5:37; Matt. 17:1; 26:37. What was his probable reward? Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4 :8 ; 1 Pet. 5:4. - What saith the Scripture concerning the wrath o f man? Psa. 76:10. Could Herod have apprehended Peter without the consent o f God? John 19:11. What had Peter twice boasted he was willing to do? John 13:36-38. Can the devices o f man stand before the plan o f God? Prov. 19:21; 27:1. LESSON
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