Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/129

Rh were denied, and that the language of the apparition was, "Let it suffice you, Peter must die, say no more of that matter." And if we understand it so, it only proves that they had then such an opinion of a man's ward being seen a little before his death, but does hot prove that there is such a thing. Others think, they took this to be an angel from heaven, sent to bring them a grant to their prayers. But why shouid they imagine that angel to assume the voice and shape of Peter, when we find not any thing like it in the appearance of angels? Perhaps, they herein spake the language of the Jews, who had a fond conceit, that every good man has a particular tutelar angel, that has the charge of him, and sometimes personates him. The heathen called it a good genius that attended a man; but since no other scripture speaks of such a thing, this alone is too weak to bear the weight of such a doctrine. We are sure that the angels are ministering spirits for the good of the heirs of salvation; that they have a charge concerning them, and pitch their tents round about them; and we need not be solicitous that every particular saint should have his guardian angel, when we are assured he has a guard of angels.

(5.) At length they let him in; (v. 16.) He continued knocking though they delayed to open to him, and at last they admitted him. The iron gate, which opposed his enlargement, opened of itself, without so much as once knocking at it; but the door of his friend's house that was to welcome him, does not open of its own accord, but must be knocked at, long knocked at; lest Peter should be puffed up by the honours which the angel did him, he meets with this mortification, by a seeming slight which his friends put upon him. But when they saw him, they were astonished, were filled with wonder and joy in him, as much as they were but just now with sorrow and fear concerning him. It was both surprising and pleasing to them in the highest degree.

(6.) Peter gave them an account of his deliverance; when he came to the company that were gathered together with so much zeal to pray for him, they gathered about him with no less zeal to congratulate him on his deliverance; and herein they were so noisy, that when Peter himself begged them to consider what peril he was yet in, if they should be overheard, he could not make them hear him, but was forced to beckon to them with the hand to hold their peace, and had much ado thereby to command silence, while he declared unto them how the Lord Jesus had by an angel brought him out of prison; and, it is very likely, having found them praying for his deliverance, he did not part with them till he and they had together solemnly given thanks to God for his enlargement; or if he could not stay to do it, it is likely, they stayed together to do it; for what is won by prayer must be worn with praise; and God must always havethe glory of that which we have the comfort of. When David declares what God had done for his soul, he blesses God who had not turned away his prayer, Ps. 66. 16, 20.

(7.) Peter sent the account to others of his friends; Go, shew these things to James, and to the brethren with him; who perhaps were met together in another place at the same time, upon the same errand to the throne of grace; which is one way of keeping up the communion of saints, and wrestling with God in prayer, acting in concert, though at a distance; like Esther and Mordecai. He would have James and his company to know of his deliverance, not only that they might be eased of their pain, and delivered from their fears concerning Peter, but that they might return thanks to God with him and for him. Observe, Though Herod had slain one James with the sword, yet here was another James, and that in Jerusalem too, that stood up in his room to preside among the brethren there; for when God has work to do, he will never want instruments to do it with.

(8.) Peter had nothing more to do for the present than to shift for his own safety, which he did accordingly; he departed, and went into another place more obscure, and therefore more safe. He knew the town very well, and knew where to find a place that would be a shelter to him. Note, Even the christian law of self-denial and suffering for Christ, has not abrogated and repealed the natural law of self-preservation, and care for our own safety, as far as God gives an opportunity of providing for it by lawful means.

V. Having seen the triumph of Peter's friends in his deliverance, let us next observe the confusion of his enemies thereupon; which was so much the greater, because people's expectation was so much raised of the putting of him to death.

1. The guards were in the utmost consternation upon it, for they knew how highly penal it was to them to let a prisoner escape, that they had charge of; (v. 18.) As soon as it was day, and they found their prisoner gone, there was no small stir or strife, as some read it, among the soldiers, what was become of Peter; he is gone, and nobody knows how or which way. They thought themselves as sure as could be of him but last night; yet now the bird is flown, and they can hear no tale or tidings of him. This set them together by the ears; one says, "It was your fault;" the other, "Nay, but it was yours;" having no other way to clear themselves, but by accusing one another. With us, if but a prisoner for debt escape, the sheriff must answer for the debt. Thus have the persecutors of the gospel of Christ been often filled with vexation to see its cause conquering, notwithstanding the opposition they have given to it.

2. Houses were searched in vain for the rescued prisoner; (v. 19.) Herod sought for him, and found him not. Who can find whom God hath hidden? Baruch and Jeremiah are safe, though searched for, because the Lord has hid them, Jer. 36. 26. In times of public danger, all believers have God for their Hiding-place; which is such a secret, that there the ignorant world cannot find them; such a strength, that the impotent world cannot reach them.

3. The keepers were reckoned with for a permissive escape; Herod examined the keepers, and finding that they could give no satisfactory account how Peter got away, he commanded that they should be put to death, according to the Roman law, and that, (1 Kings 20. 39.) If by any means he be missing, ihen shall thy life go for his life. It is probable that these keepers had been more severe with Peter than they needed to be, (as the jailor, ch. 16. 24.) and had been abusive to him, and to others that had been their prisoners upon the like account; and now justly are they put to death for that which was not their fault, and by him too that had set them to work to vex the church. When the wicked are thus snared in the work of their own hands, the Lord is known by the judgments which he executes. Or, if they had not thus made themselves obnoxious to the justice of God, and it be thought hard that innocent men should suffer thus for that which was purely the act of God; we may easily admit the conjectures of some, that though they were commanded to be put to death, to please the Jews, who were sadly disappointed by Peter's escape, yet they were not executed; but Herod's death, immediately after, prevented it.

4. Herod himself retired upon it; He went down from Judea to Cesarea, and there abode. He was vexed to the heart, as a lion disappointed of his prey; and the more because he had so much raised the expectation of the people of the Jews concerning