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Chapter 40
Peter Delivered from Prison
HEROD was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith, and apparently very zealous in
perpetuating the ceremonies of the law. The government of Judea was in his hands, subject
to Claudius, the Roman emperor; he also held the position of tetrarch of Galilee. Herod
was anxious to obtain the favor of the Jews, hoping thus to make secure his offices and
honors. He therefore proceeded to carry out the desires of the Jews in persecuting the
church of Christ. He began his work by spoiling the houses and goods of the believers; he
then began to imprison the leading ones. He seized upon James and cast him into prison,
and there sent an executioner to kill him with a sword, as another Herod had caused the
prophet John to be beheaded. He then became bolder, seeing that the Jews were well pleased
with his acts, and imprisoned Peter. These cruelties were performed during the sacred
occasion of the Passover.
The people applauded the act of Herod in causing the death of James, though some of them
complained of the private manner in which it was accomplished, maintaining that a public
execution would have had the effect to more thoroughly intimidate all believers and
sympathizers. Herod therefore held Peter in custody for the purpose of gratifying the Jews
by the public spectacle of his death. But it was suggested to the ruler that it would not
be safe to bring the veteran apostle out for execution before all the people who were
assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was feared that his venerable appearance might
excite their pity and respect; they also dreaded lest he should make one of those powerful
appeals which had frequently roused the people to investigate the life and character of
Jesus Christ, and which they, with all their artifice, were totally unable to controvert.
In such case, the Jews apprehended that his release would be demanded at the hands of the
king.
While the execution of Peter was being delayed, upon various pretexts, until after the
Passover, the church of Christ had time for deep searching of heart and earnest prayer.
Strong petitions, tears, and fasting were mingled together. They prayed without ceasing
for Peter; they felt that he could not be spared from the Christian work; and they felt
that they had arrived at a point where, without the special help of God, the church of
Christ would become extinct.
The day of Peter's execution was at last appointed; but still the prayers of the believers
ascended to Heaven. And while all their energies and sympathies were called out in fervent
appeals, angels of God were guarding the imprisoned apostle. Man's extremity is God's
opportunity. Peter was placed between two soldiers, and was bound by two chains, each
chain being fastened to the wrist of one of his guards. He was therefore unable to move
without their knowledge. The prison doors were securely fastened, and a strong guard was
placed before them. All chance of rescue or escape, by human means, was thus cut off.
The apostle was not intimidated by his situation. Since his reinstatement after his denial
of Christ, he had unflinchingly braved danger and manifested a noble courage and boldness
in preaching a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. He believed the time had now come
when he was to yield up his life for Christ's sake.
The night before his appointed execution, Peter, bound with chains, slept between the two
soldiers, as usual. Herod, remembering the escape of Peter and John from prison, where
they had been confined because of their faith, took double precautions on this occasion.
The soldiers on guard, in order to secure their extra vigilance, were made answerable for
the safekeeping of the prisoner. He was bound, as has been described, in a cell of massive
rock, the doors of which were bolted and barred. Sixteen men were detailed to guard this
cell, relieving each other at regular intervals. Four comprised the watch at one time. But
the bolts and bars and Roman guard, which effectually cut off from the prisoner a
possibility of human aid, were only to result in making the triumph of God more complete
in Peter's deliverance from prison. Herod was lifting his hand against Omnipotence, and he
was to be utterly humiliated and defeated in his attempt upon the life of the servant of
God.
Delivered by an Angel
On this last night before the execution a mighty angel, commissioned from heaven,
descended to rescue him. The strong gates which shut in the saint of God open without the
aid of human hands; the angel of the Most High enters, and they close again noiselessly
behind him. He enters the cell, hewn from the solid rock, and there lies Peter, sleeping
the blessed, peaceful sleep of innocence and perfect trust in God, while chained to a
powerful guard on either side of him. The light which envelopes the angel illuminates the
prison, but does not waken the sleeping apostle. His is the sound repose that invigorates
and renews and that comes of a good conscience.
Peter is not awakened until he feels the stroke of the angel's hand and hears his voice
saying, "Arise up quickly." He sees his cell, which had never been blessed by a
ray of sunshine, illuminated by the light of heaven, and an angel of great glory standing
before him. He mechanically obeys the voice of the angel; and in rising lifts his hands,
and finds that the chains have been broken from his wrists. Again the voice of the angel
is heard: "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals."
Again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riveted upon his heavenly
visitant, and believing himself to be dreaming, or in a vision. The armed soldiers are
passive as if chiseled from marble, as the angel again commands, "Cast thy garment
about thee, and follow me." Thereupon the heavenly being moves toward the door, and
the usually talkative Peter follows, dumb from amazement. They step over the motionless
guard and reach the heavily bolted and barred door, which swings open of its own accord
and closes again immediately; while the guard within and outside the door are motionless
at their posts.
The second gate, which is also guarded within and without, is reached; it opens as did the
first, with no creaking of hinges or rattling of iron bolts; they pass without, and it
closes again as noiselessly. They pass through the third gateway in the same manner, and
at last find themselves in the open street. No word is spoken; there is no sound of
footstep; the angel glides on before, encircled by a light of dazzling brightness, and
Peter follows his deliverer, bewildered, and believing himself to be in a dream. Street
after street is threaded thus, and then, the mission of the angel being completed, he
suddenly disappears.
As the heavenly light faded away, Peter felt himself to be in profound darkness; but
gradually the darkness seemed to decrease, as he became accustomed to it, and he found
himself alone in the silent street, with the cool night air upon his brow. He now realized
that it was no dream or vision that had visited him. He was free, in a familiar part of
the city; he recognized the place as one which he had often frequented, and had expected
to pass for the last time on the morrow, when on the way to the scene of his prospective
death. He tried to recall the events of the last few moments. He remembered falling
asleep, bound between the two soldiers, with his sandals and outer garment removed. He
examined his person and found himself fully dressed, and girded.
His wrists, swollen from wearing the cruel irons, were now free from the manacles, and he
realized that his freedom was no delusion, but a blessed reality. On the morrow he was to
have been led forth to die; but lo, an angel had delivered him from prison and from death.
"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."
The Answer to Prayer
The apostle made his way direct to the house where his brethren were assembled together
for prayer; he found them engaged in earnest prayer for him at that moment. "And as
Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 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. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed
that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and
when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 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 shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And
he departed, and went into another place."
Joy and praise filled the hearts of the fasting, praying believers, that God had heard and
answered their prayers, and delivered Peter from the hand of Herod. In the morning the
people gathered together to witness the execution of the apostle. Herod sent officers to
bring Peter from prison with great display of arms and guard, in order to ensure against
his escape, to intimidate all sympathizers, and to exhibit his own power. There was the
guard at the door of the prison, the bolts and bars of the door still fast and strong, the
guard inside, the chains attached to the wrists of the two soldiers; but the prisoner was
gone.
Herod's Retribution
When the report of these things was brought to Herod, he was exasperated, and charged the
keepers of the prison with unfaithfulness. They were accordingly put to death for the
alleged crime of sleeping at their post. At the same time Herod knew that no human power
had rescued Peter. But he was determined not to acknowledge that a divine power had been
at work to thwart his base designs. He would not humiliate himself thus, but set himself
boldly in defiance of God.
Herod, not long after Peter's deliverance from prison, went down from Judea to Caesarea
and there abode. He there made a grand festival, designed to excite the admiration and
applause of the people. Pleasure lovers from all quarters were assembled together, and
there was much feasting and wine drinking. Herod made a most gorgeous appearance before
the people. He was clad in a robe, sparkling with silver and gold, that caught the rays of
the sun in its glittering folds, and dazzled the eyes of the beholders. With great pomp
and ceremony he stood before the multitude, and addressed them in an eloquent oration.
The majesty of his appearance and the power of his well-chosen language swayed the
assembly with a mighty influence. Their senses were already perverted by feasting and
wine; they were dazzled by his glittering decorations and charmed by his grand deportment
and eloquent words; and, wild with enthusiasm, they showered upon him adulation, and
proclaimed him a god, declaring that mortal man could not present such an appearance or
command such startling eloquence of language. They further declared that they had ever
respected him as a ruler, but from henceforth they should worship him as a god.
Herod knew that he deserved none of this praise and homage; yet he did not rebuke the
idolatry of the people, but accepted it as his due. The glow of gratified pride was on his
countenance as he heard the shout ascend: "It is the voice of a god, and not of a
man." The same voices which now glorified a vile sinner had, but a few years before,
raised the frenzied cry of, Away with Jesus! Crucify Him! crucify Him! Herod received this
flattery and homage with great pleasure, and his heart bounded with triumph; but suddenly
a swift and terrible change came over him. His countenance became pallid as death and
distorted with agony; great drops of sweat started from his pores. He stood a moment as if
transfixed with pain and terror; then, turning his blanched and livid face to his
horror-stricken friends, he cried in hollow, despairing tones, He whom you have exalted as
a god is struck with death!
He was borne in a state of the most excruciating anguish from the scene of wicked revelry,
the mirth, and pomp, and display of which he now loathed in his soul. A moment before, he
had been the proud recipient of the praise and worship of that vast throng--now he felt
himself in the hands of a Ruler mightier than himself. Remorse seized him; he remembered
his cruel command to slay the innocent James; he remembered his relentless persecution of
the followers of Christ, and his design to put to death the apostle Peter, whom God had
delivered out of his hand; he remembered how, in his mortification and disappointed rage,
he had wreaked his unreasoning revenge upon the keepers of the prisoner and executed them
without mercy. He felt that God, who had rescued the apostle from death, was now dealing
with him, the relentless persecutor. He found no relief from pain of body or anguish of
mind, and he expected none. Herod was acquainted with the law of God, which says,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," and he knew that in accepting the
worship of the people he had filled up the measure of his iniquity and had brought upon
himself the just wrath of God.
The same angel who had left the royal courts of heaven to rescue Peter from the power of
his persecutor, had been the messenger of wrath and judgment to Herod. The angel smote
Peter to arouse him from slumber; but it was with a different stroke that he smote the
wicked king, bringing mortal disease upon him. God poured contempt upon Herod's pride, and
his person, which he had exhibited decked in shining apparel before the admiring gaze of
the people, was eaten by worms, and putrefied while yet alive. Herod died in great agony
of mind and body, under the retributive justice of God.
This demonstration of divine judgment had a mighty influence upon the people. While the
apostle of Christ had been miraculously delivered from prison and death, his persecutor
had been stricken down by the curse of God. The news was borne to all lands, and was the
means of bringing many to believe on Christ.
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