The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 391

Vers. 1-25.-.The persecuUon at Jerusalem, I. THE PUTTING To DEATH op JAMES, AND THE SEIZURE OF PETER, The narrative of the former event is short and dry. But, remarks e. commentator, whatever the reason of this may be, it is certain that the Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration this history was given, manifested a peculiar wisdom in this very brevity, '£he holy silence is a sign to ns that that which is highest and most pleasing to God is not precisely that of which men love to know and speak. "Our life is bid with Christ in God." The peculiar life in life, and the holy dying in death, these are hidden with Obrist in God, not merely from the world, but from the children of God; precious, nevertheless, before God, a work following the soul into eternity. The frivolous persecutor, who has been an enemy of the Jews, now, to please them, sacrifices the Christians. The cruelty and frivolity of tyrants has been permitted to work much evil and cause much bloodshed. Our only consolation in meditating on such facts is to reflect that Christianity is an ideal system, and has compensations not of this world. II. THE DELIVERANCE OF PETER, 1. His imprisonment fell in the days of unleavened bread-the Passover-time; doubtless reminding him, not only of the passion and resur- rection of the Saviour, but of his own frailty and denial of him. Now was the prophecy of Jesus fulfilled: "Hereafter thou shalt follow me." All in the scene, the memories, the immediate prospects before Peter's mind disposed him to sad and serious thought. 2, The strong guard placed over him seems to bear witness to the respect felt for his per- son, the fear of his influence. 'l'he parts of the prisoner and that of the tyrant are often really reversed; he is at peace, they tremble when they have him most in their power. Behind the scene a purpose was working mightier than all human force. The perse- cutors intended to bring him after the Passover feast; but God intends to save him. Herod plots Peter's death, while God wills the preservation of Peter and the death of the murderer. Another view of spiritual force working to counteract physical force is given in the statement of the unceasing prayer of the Church on Peter's behalf. " God can refuse nothing to a praying Church." "One true prayer can strike down the whole power of hell ; why not Herod with his sixteen soldiers?" " By the blood and prayers of Ohristians Herod's arm was maimed, his sceptre broken, and the Roman empire brought to ruins." - Peter in the prison may remind us to pray, " That it may please thee to show pity upon all prisoners and captives!" Meanwhile Peter sleeps; as a child flung into the strong arms of a father, so in the extremity of his distress he has flung himself on God, and rests. And over him Divine love watches with all the tenderness of the parent's eye and heart. 3. The delivering angel. The angels are ministers of God to the bodies and souls of the "heirs of salvation." ·whether we speak of angels, or of instruments, or providential means, the truth at bottom is the same. All agents and instruments may be considered Divine which are set in motion by the Divine po,vcr and love, and providentially meet the need of the hour. So too the shining effulgence which accompanies the angel's visit. We do not expect such phenomena now; but the light in the heart, the joy which comes of having surrendered the soul to God and of being conscious of his presence, is not Jess real than ever. " To the upright there ariseth light in the darkness." We may if we please allegorize what follows to our own account. "Arise quickly I" and the chains fell from his hands. For the word of the Lord no iron is too hard, no stone nor bolt too strODg. '!'here are worse prisons than those of stone. "Stone walls do not e. prison ma.ke, Nor iron bars e. cage." It is our own fettered thouahts which cramp and oppress the soul. Again, with the Divine command, "Gird thyself, and biud on thy s_anda!s," the power to obey comes. And so again when he is bidden to cast around him his garment and to follow, A flltJSon, attentive to t}i.e am~Jlest details, is discovered in every call to duty and freedom. 888 TIIE Am'S OF THE APOSTLES, [cH, xn.1-25.