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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