Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/827

 Church of  God. But God  confounded  their  wicked  plans  by  miraculously freeing  Peter  from  prison  on  what  was  meant  to  be  the  last  night of his  life,  and  when  everything  was  made  ready  for  his  execution. Every precaution  had  been  taken  to  prevent  his  escape; he  was  actually chained to  two  soldiers;  a guard  stood  before  the  door  of  his  prison, and a little  further  off  there  was  placed  a second  guard;  and  the  iron gate which  led  into  the  outer  street  was  firmly  barred  and  bolted. The unbelieving Jews  were  looking  forward  with  jubilation  to  the  coming morning, when  the  apostle  whom  they  so  bitterly  hated  was  to  be  put to death; they  never  even  thought  of  his  rescue  and  escape  as  a possibility! However, man  proposes,  but  God  disposes. The Lord  God exercised His  almighty  power,  the  chains  fell  from  Peter’s  hands,  the iron gate  was  thrown  open,  and  Peter,  guided  by  an  angel,  passed  out of the  prison  into  the  city,  without  anyone  being  able  to  stop  him! This great  miracle  increased  the  number  of  believers,  and  was  the  cause of the  further  extension  of  the  Church.

The power  of  prayer.  Peter’s  wonderful  deliverance  was  the  fruit of the  common  and  persevering  prayer  of  the  Christians. The captivity and approaching  death  of  its  Supreme  Pastor  was  a terrible  trial  to  the infant Church. The faithful,  however,  did  not  give  themselves  over  to sadness  and  discouragement,  but  prayed  earnestly  and  confidently  to the  Lord  of  the  Church  to  help  them  in  their  distress. The Christians of Jerusalem  sent  the  sad  news  of  the  danger  which  threatened  their common father  to  all  the  other  Christian  communities  at  Samaria,  Joppe, Damascus, Antioch,  and  so  forth;  and  everywhere  the  faithful  joined together to  pray  in  common  for  the  head  of  the  Church. The whole Church was  on  her  knees  supplicating  Him  who  had  said  to  her: “Lo, I am with  you  all  days,  even  unto  the  consummation  of  the  world.” Scripture says  that  the  faithful  prayed  without  ceasing. They prayed by day  and  by  night,  and  did  not  lose  hope  although  the  days  were running by  without,  apparently,  bringing  help. Then — in the  middle of the  very  last  night — Peter  was  set  free  and  given  back  to  the  sorrowing Church. When the  need  is  greatest,  God  is  nearest!

The sins  of  Herod  Agrippa.  Herod  sinned  grievously,  1. by mercilessly persecuting  the  Church  of  God;  2. by allowing  divine  honour  to be  paid  him,  without  protest. Although he  was  a Jew  and  knew  the true God,  yet,  blinded  by  a senseless  pride,  he  complacently  accepted the blasphemous  flattery  that  he  was  a god  and  not  a man! This filled the measure  of  his  sins,  and  the  punishment  of  divine  justice  overtook him. Hardly had  he  accepted  the  blasphemous  adulation  before  he was  seized  with  the  most  intense  physical  pains,  and  died  after  five days of  terrible  agony. Thus Almighty  God  proved  to  him  and  his flatterers that  he  was  no  supernatural  being,  but  a truly  miserable mortal man.

Sharing the  guilt  of  the  sins  of  others. The  Jews,  by  expressing satisfaction at  the  murder  of  St.  James,  made  themselves  participators