the acts of the apostles-第25部分

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apostle。　Not　until　he　feels　the　touch　of　the　angel's　hand　and　hears　a　voice
saying；　〃Arise　up　quickly；〃

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does　he　awaken　sufficiently　to　see　his　cell　illuminated　by　the　light　of
heaven；　and　an　angel　of　great　glory　standing　before　him。　Mechanically　he
obeys　the　word　spoken　to　him；　and　as　in　rising　he　lifts　his　hands　he　is
dimly　conscious　that　the　chains　have　fallen　from　his　wrists。

Again　the　voice　of　the　heavenly　messenger　bids　him；　〃Gird　thyself；　and　bind
on　thy　sandals；〃　and　again　Peter　mechanically　obeys；　keeping　his　wondering
gaze　riveted　upon　his　visitor　and　believing　himself　to　be　dreaming　or　in　a
vision。　Once　more　the　angel　commands；　〃Cast　thy　garment　about　thee；　and
follow　me。〃　He　moves　toward　the　door；　followed　by　the　usually　talkative
Peter；　now　dumb　from　amazement。　They　step　over　the　guard　and　reach　the
heavily　bolted　door；　which　of　its　own　accord　swings　open　and　closes　again
immediately；　while　the　guards　within　and　without　are　motionless　at　their
post。

The　second　door；　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　through；　and　it　closes　again　as　noiselessly。　In　the　same　way　they　pass
through　the　third　gateway　and　find　themselves　in　the　open　street。　No　word　is
spoken；　there　is　no　sound　of　footsteps。　The　angel　glides　on　in　front；
encircled　by　a　light　of　dazzling　brightness；　and　Peter；　bewildered；　and
still　believing　himself　to　be　in　a　dream；　follows　his　deliverer。　Thus　they
pass　on　through　one　street；　and　then；　the　mission　of　the　angel　being
accomplished；　he　suddenly　disappears。

The　heavenly　light　faded　away；　and　Peter　felt　himself　to　be　in　profound
darkness；　but　as　his　eyes　became　accustomed

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to　the　darkness；　it　gradually　seemed　to　lessen；　and　he　found　himself　alone
in　the　silent　street；　with　the　cool　night　air　blowing　upon　his　brow。　He　now
realized　that　he　was　free；　in　a　familiar　part　of　the　city；　he　recognized　the
place　as　one　that　he　had　often　frequented　and　had　expected　to　pass　on　the
morrow　for　the　last　time。

He　tried　to　recall　the　events　of　the　past　few　moments。　He　remembered　falling
asleep；　bound　between　two　soldiers；　with　his　sandals　and　outer　garments
removed。　He　examined　his　person　and　found　himself　fully　dressed　and　girded。
His　wrists；　swollen　from　wearing　the　cruel　irons；　were　free　from　the
manacles。　He　realized　that　his　freedom　was　no　delusion；　no　dream　or　vision；
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　apostle　made　his　way　at　once　to　the　house　where　his　brethren　were
assembled　and　where　they　were　at　that　moment　engaged　in　earnest　prayer　for
him。　〃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

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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　Peter　〃departed；　and　went　into　another
place。〃　Joy　and　praise　filled　the　hearts　of　the　believers；　because　God　had
heard　and　answered　their　prayers　and　had　delivered　Peter　from　the　hands　of
Herod。

In　the　morning　a　large　concourse　of　people　gathered　to　witness　the　execution
of　the　apostle。　Herod　sent　officers　to　the　prison　for　Peter；　who　was　to　be
brought　with　a　great　display　of　arms　and　guards　in　order　not　only　to　ensure
against　his　escape；　but　to　intimidate　all　sympathizers　and　to　show　the　power
of　the　king。

When　the　keepers　before　the　door　found　that　Peter　had　escaped；　they　were
seized　with　terror。　It　had　been　expressly　stated　that　their　lives　would　be
required　for　the　life　of　their　charge；　and　because　of　this　they　had　been
especially　vigilant。　When　the　officers　came　for　Peter；　the　soldiers　were
still　at　the　door　of　the　prison；　the　bolts　and　bars　were　still　fast；　the
chains　were　still　secured　to　the　wrists　of　the　two　soldiers；　but　the
prisoner　was　gone。

When　the　report　of　Peter's　escape　was　brought　to　Herod；　he　was　exasperated
and　enraged。　Charging　the　prison　guard　with　unfaithfulness；　he　ordered　them
to　be　put　to　death。　Herod　knew　that　no　human　power　had　rescued　Peter；　but　he
was　determined　not　to　acknowledge　that　a　divine　power　had　frustrated　his
design；　and　he　set　himself　in　bold　defiance　against　God。

Not　long　after　Peter's　deliverance　from　prison；　Herod

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went　to　Caesarea。　While　there　he　made　a　great　festival　designed　to　excite
the　admiration　and　gain　the　applause　of　the　people。　This　festival　was
attended　by　pleasure　lovers　from　all　quarters；　and　there　was　much　feasting
and　wine　drinking。　With　great　pomp　and　ceremony　Herod　appeared　before　the
people　and　addressed　them　in　an　eloquent　oration。　Clad　in　a　robe　sparkling
with　silver　and　gold；　which　caught　the　rays　of　the　sun　in　its　glittering
folds　and　dazzled　the　eyes　of　the　beholders；　he　was　a　gorgeous　figure。　The
majesty　of　his　appearance　and　the　force　of　his　well…chosen　language　swayed
the　assembly　with　a　mighty　power。　Their　senses　already　perverted　by　feasting
and　wine　drinking；　they　were　dazzled　by　Herod's　decorations　and　charmed　by
his　deportment　and　oratory；　and　wild　with　enthusiasm　they　showered　adulation
upon　him；　declaring　that　no　mortal　could　present　such　an　appearance　or
command　such　startling　eloquence。　They　further　declared　that　while　they　had
ever　respected　him　as　a　ruler；　henceforth　they　should　worship　him　as　a　god。

Some　of　those　whose　voices　were　now　heard　glorifying　a　vile　sinner　had　but　a
few　years　before　raised　the　frenzied　cry；　Away　with　Jesus！　Crucify　Him；
crucify　Him！　The　Jews　had　refused　to　receive　Christ；　whose　garments；　coarse
and　often　travel…stained；　covered　a　heart　of　divine　love。　Their　eyes　could
not　discern；　under　the　humble　exterior；　the　Lord　of　life　and　glory；　even
though　Christ's　power　was　revealed　before　them　in　works　that　no　mere　man
could　do。　But　they　were　ready　to　worship　as　a　god　the　haughty　king　whose
splendid　garments　of　silver　and　gold　covered　a　corrupt；　cruel　heart。

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Herod　knew　that　he　deserved　none　of　the　praise　and　homage　offered　him；　yet
he　accepted　the　idolatry　of　the　people　as　his　due。　His　heart　bounded　with
triumph；　and　a　glow　of　gratified　pride　overspread　his　countenance　as　he
heard　the　shout　ascend；　〃It　is　the　voice　of　a　god；　and　not　of　a　man。〃

But　suddenly　a　terrible　change　came　over　him。　His　face　became　pallid　as
death　and　distorted　with　agony。　Great　drops　of　sweat　started　from　his　pores。
He　stood　for　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　stricken　with
death。

Suffering　the　most　excruciating　anguish；　he　was　borne　from　the　scene　of
revelry　and　display。　A　moment　before　he　had　been　the　proud　recipient　of　the
praise　and　worship　of　that　vast　throng；　now　he　realized　that　he　was　in　the
hands　of　a　Ruler　mightier　than　himself。　Remorse　seized　him；　he　remembered
his　relentless　persecution　of　the　followers　of　Christ；　he　remembered　his
cruel　command　to　slay　the　innocent　James；　and　his　design　to　put　to　death　the
apostle　Peter；　he　remembered　how　in　his　mortification　and　disappointed　rage
he　had　wreaked　an　unreasoning　vengeance　upon　the　prison　guards。　He　felt　that
God　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〃　（Exodus　20：3）；　and　he　knew　that　in　accepting　the
worship　of　the　people

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he　had　filled　up　the　measure　of　his　iniquity　and　brought　upon　himself　the
just　wrath　of　Jehovah。

The　same　angel　who　had　come　from　the　royal　courts　to　rescue　Peter；　had　been
the　messenger　of　wrath　and　judgment　to　Herod。　The　angel　smote　Peter　to
arouse　him　from　slumber；　it　was　with　a　different　stroke　that　he　smote　the
wicked　king；　laying　low　his　pride　and　bringing　upon　him　the　punishment　of
the　Almighty。　Herod　died　in　great　agony　of　mind　and　body；　under　the
retributive　judgment　of　God。

This　demonstration　of　divine　justice　had　a　powerful　influence　upon　the
people。　The　tidings　that　the　apostle　of　Christ　had　been　miraculously
delivered　from　prison　and　death；　while　his　persecutor　had　been　stricken　down
by　the　curse　of　God；　were　borne　to　all　lands　and　became　the　means　of　leading
many　to　a　belief　in　Christ。

The　experien