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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. |
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 when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. |
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 And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and 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 was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church 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 Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept 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 behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from 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 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow 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 he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought 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 when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel 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 when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from 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 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were 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 when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named 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 when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate. |
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. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel. |
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 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. |
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 But he beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went 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 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. |
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| 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and tarried there. |
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| 20 Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king’s country. |
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| 21 And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made 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 people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, and not of a man. |
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| 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the breath. |
Eaten of worms – Disease of intestinal worms. Within a month he died. R4348:1, 3002:6
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| 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. |
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 returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was 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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