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| 1 And about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands, to do evil to certain of those of the assembly, |
About that time – Supposed to date about twelve years after our Lord's crucifixion. R4346:2
Herod – A descendant of Esau. R3003:1
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of the Herod who murdered the babes in Bethlehem. Herod was a family name. R3002:3, 4346:2, 2139:3
Nephew of Herod Antipas who murdered John the Baptist. R2139:3, 4346:2, 3002:3
The king – Of Judea. R4346:2
Vex certain of the church – Imprisoned the King's messengers. R2301:3
The eleven bravely stood their ground, knowing others would look to them for encouragement. F230; R1523:6
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| 2 and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword, |
He killed James – Not all of God's servants will be miraculously delivered. R1455:2
In the majority of cases the Church's experiences are far more like James' than like Peter's. R3004:2
He was a leader amongst the apostles and was beheaded. The Lord could accomplish more by his death, than by keeping him alive. R4347:4, 2139:5, 3003:1
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| 3 and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to lay hold of Peter also and they were the days of the unleavened food |
Pleased the Jews – The same spirit of murder. R2139:6
Even at cost of principle. R4346:3, 3896:1
To take Peter also – Who would not flee, because he knew at this trying time the Church abroad would look to them at Jerusalem for encouragement and help. F230, F231
Unleavened bread – According to Jewish custom no one could be put to death during that week. R2139:5
Trusting to the sacredness of the Passover season, Peter ventured forth. R4346:3
Each Memorial season is a time for special trial and testing. We recommend alertness be exercised during the forty days preceding the Memorial Supper. R4346:5,6
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| 4 whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people. |
Apprehended him – The Greek implies that his arrest was after searching. R4346:3, 3003:2
The time of his arrest was too close to the festival to permit his execution. R3003:3
In prison – Probably the Castle of Antonio; possibly where Jesus was arraigned before Pilate, and where Paul was later taken. R4346:6, 3003:5, 2140:1
Four quaternions – Four shifts of four soldiers each; two chained to the prisoner, the third was outside the door and the fourth in the passage leading to the outer iron gate. R3003:2, 4347:1, 2140:1
Easter – Should be rendered "Passover." Estera, from which Easter comes, was a Saxon goddess of the East. The name was adopted from the heathen. F479, F482; R5191:6, 3003:3, 2271:3, 1631:3, 1290:1
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| 5 Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him, |
Without ceasing – Lesson of importunity; examples given in the Scriptures fully warranted the all-night prayer meeting. R4347:2
Of the church – Frequent mention is made of the Church gathering for prayer. R2023:3
For him – It was not proper for him to pray for deliverance for himself; he had consecrated his life unto death. His friends were praying for him. R4347:1, 3003:3
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| 6 and when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, having been bound with two chains, guards also before the door were keeping the prison, |
Peter was sleeping – He trusted in divine wisdom, power and love. R2140:2
The power of divine grace helping in time of need (Heb. 4:16) gave him peace. R4347:1
His heart filled with the peace of God which passeth all understanding. (Phil. 4:7) And, "He giveth his belove 127:2 R3003:4
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| 7 and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having smitten Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, 'Rise in haste,' and his chains fell from off [his] hands. |
Behold, the angel – Appeared personally; non-personal instructions are properly described as from or by the Lord's holy Spirit. E277; R265:3
"Ministering spirits sent forth to minister." (Heb. 1:10) R3004:2
Angels are not permitted to materialize now. R4347:5
Of the Lord – A lesson of God's power to help his servants. R1455:2
A light shined – So that the Apostle might know that his deliverer, with radiant features, was a holy being. R4347:5
Chains fell off – God sometimes grants his "new creatures" special favors of an earthly sort, even though they do not ask for them. R2009:2
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| 8 The messenger also said to him, 'Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals;' and he did so; and he saith to him, 'Put thy garment round and be following me;' |
Gird thyself – Whatever he could do, he was required to do; the angel did only what Peter could not do. R4347:5, 3003:5
Similarly today, it is ours to do everything within our power. R4347:6
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| 9 and having gone forth, he was following him, and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision, |
He went out – Between three and six in the morning; he was not missed until sunrise, when the guards were changed. R4347:5, 2139:6, 3003:6
Thought he saw a vision – Expecting that he would awaken shortly to find himself still bound. R3003:5
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| 10 and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city, which of its own accord did open to them, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him. |
His own accord – What is contrary to physical law, is called miraculous; but may be in accordance with the laws of spiritual life. HG29:5; R265:2
Angel departed – Having accomplished his mission. R2140:3
Having simply done for Peter what he could not have done for himself. R303:5, 2009:2
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| 11 And Peter having come to himself, said, 'Now I have known of a truth that the Lord did sent forth His messenger, and did deliver me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews;' |
Come to himself – Realized the facts of the case, that he was free. R4347:6
Hath delivered me – The Lord preserved Peter because he had a special work for him to do. R4347:4
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| 12 also, having considered, he came unto the house of Mary, the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where there were many thronged together and praying. |
The house of Mary – An intimation that this piece of property was not put into the common fund. R2932:3
The congregations of the primitive Church were small and usually met in private houses. R2941:6, 3003:3
In the public assembly of the saints. R3698:5
John – The writer of the Gospel of Mark, cousin of Barnabas, and son of one of the Marys at Jerusalem. R3006:3, 3003:6, 4347:2
Nephew of Barnabas. R2141:2
Surname was Mark – Latin, Marcus. R3003:6
Gathered together – A great blessing and strengthening of their faith. Q542:1
Praying – They were kept up all night, evidently for the entire week of Peter's imprisonment. R2139:6, 4347:2; Q541:3
The Lord intended a deliverance for St. Peter, but allowed it to come about as a reward of faith of those praying for him. R4347:3
Is indispensable to Christian life; it means a living and a growing faith. R2692:1
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| 13 And Peter having knocked at the door of the porch, there came a damsel to hearken, by name Rhoda, |
Door of the gate – Implying that it was a better class house. R4347:6
Rhoda – Little rose. R4347:6, 3003:6
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| 14 and having known the voice of Peter, from the joy she did not open the porch, but having run in, told of the standing of Peter before the porch, |
Knew Peter's voice – It was customary to make inquiries before opening the door. R3003:6
Opened not the gate – Neglected to open the door. R3003:6, 4347:6
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| 15 and they said unto her, 'Thou art mad;' and she was confidently affirming [it] to be so, and they said, 'It is his messenger;' |
It is his angel – His representative, come in answer to our prayers to God for consolation; one of the "ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation." (Heb. 1:14) R3004:2, 4348:1, 2140:5
They might of thought this was an impersonation. Q20:2
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| 16 and Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished, |
And saw him – The answer to their prayers. R2140:4, 3004:2
They were astonished – Were surprised at the Lord's answer to their petitions. R4348:1
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| 17 and having beckoned to them with the hand to be silent, he declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison, and he said, 'Declare to James and to the brethren these things;' and having gone forth, he went on to another place. |
Beckoning unto them – There was an outburst of excitement and questions which the Apostle was obliged to silence by the shaking of his hands. R4348:1
Unto James – The Lord's brother or second cousin. R3004:3, 4348:1, 2140:4
And to the brethren – The leaders of the cause in the city. R2140:4
He departed – Left the city, in accordance with the Lord's instructions to flee when persecuted. (Matt. 10:23) R3004:3, 2140:4
Into another place – Whether to another city or another house, we do not know. R4348:1
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| 18 And day having come, there was not a little stir among the soldiers what then was become of Peter, |
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| 19 and Herod having sought for him, and not having found, having examined the guards, did command [them] to be led away to punishment, and having gone down from Judea to Cesarea, he was abiding [there]. |
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| 20 And Herod was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians, and with one accord they came unto him, and having made a friend of Blastus, who [is] over the bed-chambers of the king, they were asking peace, because of their country being nourished from the king's; |
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| 21 and on a set day, Herod having arrayed himself in kingly apparel, and having sat down upon the tribunal, was making an oration unto them, |
Upon a set day – Feast of Tabernacles, 41 AD. R3002:3
Made an oration – Read the whole Book of Deuteronomy. R3002:3
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| 22 and the populace were shouting, 'The voice of a god, and not of a man;' |
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| 23 and presently there smote him a messenger of the Lord, because he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten of worms, he expired. |
Eaten of worms – Disease of intestinal worms. Within a month he died. R4348:1, 3002:6
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| 24 And the word of God did grow and did multiply, |
The word of God grew – This chapter shows the power of Satan, the power of God, and the power of prayer. R4348:5
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| 25 and Barnabas and Saul did turn back out of Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministration, having taken also with [them] John, who was surnamed Mark. |
Barnabas – A disciple named Joseph. Name change to Barnabas. R4357:1
John whose surname was Mark – The writer of the Gospel of Mark, cousin of Barnabas, and son of one of the Marys at Jerusalem. R3006:3, 3003:6
Nephew of Barnabas. R2141:2
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