Chapter 23: I WILL GO WITH THEE TO PRISON
Chapter 23: I WILL GO WITH THEE TO PRISON
Acts xii. 1-25
"How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The fitting skies, like flying pursuivant.
Against foul friends to aid us militant!"
— Spenser.
AGAIN IT WAS the Passover. "Those were the days of unleavened bread." Fourteen years before Peter had been sent with John to prepare the Passover Feast for his Lord, and as the Apostles were gathered around the table he had avowed his willingness to go with his Master even to prison. Here he was nobly fulfilling his vow. At that Passover also he had slept, but it was the sleep of unwatch fulness, of self-confidence, of the weakness of the flesh. He failed to watch even for one hour with Christ. It was the sleep of the sentry at his post! But here again he slept, but it was the sleep of absolute confidence in the grace of Christ, who would yet deliver him, if it were His will; but if not, would enable him to be faithful unto death. Previously he had slept whilst Jesus prayed; now as he slept, not only did the great High Priest pray that his faith might not fail, but many were gathered together in Mary's house, and were praying for him. But he was not to die. On that first Easter morning an Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled away the stone that closed the tomb where Jesus had been ensepulchred, and now again an Angel would open the prison-doors on an Easter morn.
I. "THE KINGS OF THE EARTH SET THEMSELVES." — "About that time Herod the King put forth his hands to afflict certain of the Church." He was known as Herod Agrippa, and his character bore the infamous brand of the Herod-stock. By unscrupulous subservience to the caprices and crimes of Roman Emperors, and a lamb-like guile beneath which he concealed the passions of the forest, he had become possessed of regal power hardly inferior to that of Herod the Great. In order to ingratiate himself with the Jewish leaders he made a great show of zeal for the requirements of the Mosaic ritual. Josephus tells us that he did not allow one day to pass without its appointed sacrifice. But his further steps in the same direction were taken in the blood of Christian martyrs. Hitherto the Sanhedrists had not ventured openly to oppose the progress of the Church, though they gnashed their teeth against it in mortification and rage. They heartily welcomed, therefore, the policy of persecution and extermination which the King proposed. They even winked at his exercise of the prerogative of death, which they had sacredly reserved within their own jurisdiction. Their hatred of Christ was gratified, and Herod's position was apparently strengthened — were not these results well worth the spilling of Christian blood?
James, one of the Master's innermost circle, was the first to suffer. He had been surnamed Boanerges, and had on one occasion called fire from Heaven. May not his vehement passion for righteousness have been the reason why he was summarily executed by Herod's sword? Perhaps he stood in the breach against the tyrant, and declared the fate which must overtake him, if he continued his persecuting policy — a fate which, as this chapter tells us, did actually overtake him. Did he remind Herod Agrippa of the awful death-scene through which his grandfather had passed to his account? The historian does not gratify our curiosity. All we know is that he proved himself able to drink of his Master's cup and be baptized with His baptism, and that in a chariot of fire he ascended to his throne.
Agrippa saw that it pleased the Jews, and he was encouraged to strike again, but harder; and this time to arrest the leader of the hated sect, who more than once had defied the whole strength of the Sanhedrim. Peter was the strongest element in the Christian community. The precautions taken to secure him suggests that the King feared lest his arrest might lead to an attempt at rescue, and also that his advisers and abetters had a lively memory of the two previous occasions on which the prison-doors had been opened for the release of this same man. Like Pharaoh, like Saul, like Ahab, like Haman, like Antiochus Epiphanes, like Herod the Great, like Nero, Herod Agrippa set himself against Jehovah and against His Christ. A body of sixteen soldiers was set to watch and hold the prisoner.
Four were on duty for three hours, and were then relieved. Two were in the cell with him, his hands fastened to one on either side. A third stood outside the bolted door, whilst a fourth was posted along the corridor, which led to the great iron gate. The place of confinement was probably the Castle of Antonia, which was situated between the outer and middle wall. "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth; the Lord shall laugh at him, for He seeth that his day is coming." Already Herod's doom was prepared, and the Angel who was to release Peter was ready to smite the tyrant oppressor in the hour of his greatest triumph. When the people were shouting in mad adulation, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man," immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was carried from the theatre to his palace, a dying man. For five long days he lay in excruciating agony, and on the sixth of August expired, unlamented. As Peter said long after, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment."
II. THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. — The situation appeared desperate, so far as human judgment was concerned. If Herod succeeded in his designs against Peter, what could the rank and file look for but wholesale massacre. If the shepherd cannot stand against the lion, what must the sheep expect? But there is always a weapon left to the children of God. With God all things are possible. It is proverbial that prayer moves the arm that moves the world; but would it not be more accurate to say that it reaches the Heart of Him who has all power in Heaven and on earth? Peter was kept in prison "until the days of unleavened bread had passed "; but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.
In the Greek, the word rendered without ceasing is used to describe the Lord's supplications in Gethsemane, when, "being in an agony He prayed the more earnestly." The wrestlings of the Church on behalf of their beloved leader were only to be compared to the strong crying and tears with which the Saviour sought the Father's help in His supreme hour.
It is more than probable that Paul and Barnabas were present during these memorable meetings. They had brought gifts of money for the relief of their Judaean brethren; but these were not so precious as their sympathy and fellowship. To be fellow-helpers in intercession, to blend their hearts in the common anguish and their voices in the common intercession, were their most precious contributions to the dire necessities of the Mother Church. Paul could not forget the fortnight that he had spent with Peter years before; and Barnabas would remember him as the means of his own knowledge of Jesus. Could he ever forget those earlier scenes, when the memory of Pentecost was fresh, and he had attracted Peter's loving gratitude, as he laid the price of his estate at the Apostle's feet?
Day after day passed, and the seven days of the Feast had expired. On the morrow Herod would bring his prisoner forth to a mock trial and then a cruel death. As yet there had been no answering voice from Heaven. The Passover moon was waning, the new day was climbing up the sky. We are informed that Peter was not missed till it was day, i.e., sunrise, about six o'clock. Clearly then his release must have taken place between three o'clock, when a fresh quarternion had come on duty, and six o'clock when they were relieved. Some time must be allowed for the watch and their ward to become drowsy and fall into a sound sleep. Therefore it may have been about five o'clock in the April dawn that the light shone into the darkness of the cell, and the Angel of the Lord stood by Plis servant's side. Until that moment, within we will say two hours of the fateful hour, the Church had never ceased its agonized pleadings on his behalf of their chief shepherd. Again the Saviour came at the fourth watch of the night. Again He tarried until trembling faith had almost expired. Again He had taught the old lesson that, "men ought always to pray and not to faint." "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth, until it receive the latter as well as the early rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand." "He that cometh will come, and will not tarry."
Meanwhile He was answering prayer by the great peace which He breathed into Peter's soul. He was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison. So his Master slept amid the storm that threatened to engulf boat and crew. Peter's words in after days may be taken as revealing the secret of his tranquillity. He was experiencing the blessedness of those who are reproached for the name of Christ. He was permitted to be a partaker of Christ's sufferings. The Spirit of glory and of God was resting upon him. He was suffering according to the will of God, and was happy to commit his soul in well-doing unto his faithful Creator.
Perhaps, also, he pillowed his heart on the never-to-be-forgotten words, which the Lord had addressed to him on the shores of the lake: "When thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands and another shall carry thee whither thou wouldest not." But he was not old. His power was yet in its maturity; and death by crucifixion was not in Herod's power. So he rested in the Lord, and waited patiently for Him, and his mind was kept in perfect peace. Was not this a part at least of God's answer to the protracted intercessions of the Church?
Pray on, O Church of the Redeemed! Jehovah is riding on the heavens to thy help! He is in the midst of thee, thou shalt not be moved; God shall help thee at the dawn of the morning; the Lord of hosts is with thee, the God of Jacob is thy refuge. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make thee glad!
III. THE OPENING OF THE IRON GATE. — God's Angels are always near us. They are sent forth to minister to us who sorely need their succour. Their pure breasts heave with sympathy for our sorrows, and expand with gladness in our joys. We have no need to summon the spirits of the departed — even if we had the power to do it, which we have not — so long as we can reckon on the benign and strong assistance of these pure and loving ministers. Except in extreme cases, as here, they do not manifest themselves, but they are with us always. Our Father gives them charge concerning us, that they should keep us in all our ways. One such had for the whole seven days of his imprisonment been watching by Peter's side, waiting for the precise moment fixed for action by the Lord Himself. Not a moment sooner; not a moment later.
When it arrived he cast off his enshrouding veil, and instantly a mild and gentle light fell on the sleeping group, awaking none of them. He had to smite Peter on his side, and call him to arise. Naturally enough he arose, hardly aware that the fetters and chains had ceased to hold him. There was no need, however, for feverish haste. When the Lord goes before His servants and acts as their rearward, they go neither by haste nor flight. The Apostle seems to have been dazed, and needed constant reminders of what he should do in tightening his girdle, putting on his sandals, and assuming his warm outer cloak. In answer to the Angel's summons to follow him, he passed through the door of the cell as though in a dream.
"He wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel, but thought he saw a vision." The gleaming light from his form led him past the first and second sentries, but they gave no sign of awakening. "A deep sleep from God had fallen upon them." Did he question whether that mighty iron gate would open? Did the suggestion occur to his hazy mind, that after all they might be arrested by that impenetrable and insuperable barrier? Was he overtaken by the dread which befell the women, almost on that day fourteen years before, when they suddenly said to each other: "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" There is no answer to these inquiries.
But we know that when they reached this last barrier it silently opened to them of its own accord. It was swung open and closed again by strong and invincible hands. The morning breath was in Peter's face, as in company with his Angel guide he passed through one street; but that was all, and it was enough, for God is sparing of the miraculous. When our own judgment is adequate for our tasks, we are left to use it. When, therefore, they had passed through one street, the Angel left him, "and when he had considered the thing he came to the house of Mary, where many were gathered together and were praying." Mary was sister to Barnabas and the mother of John Mark. There had been no sleep in that home that night. Peter's coming martyrdom was on every heart; and perhaps the hope of his deliverance had faded from their thought. They were resigning themselves to what seemed to be the Lord's will, and only asking that he might be strengthened and upheld in his last hours. This may explain their incredulity when Rhoda, the servant-girl, rushed into their midst with the announcement that Peter was standing at the gate. For precaution's sake she had asked who it was that sought for admittance at that unusual hour; and when she heard his voice, with which she was intimately familiar, for he was a constant visitor there, she recognized it instantly, and in her joy actually forgot to admit him, so he continued knocking. This might have awakened attention and imperilled his re-arrest, but there seemed no alternative, and he could only trust that the same loving care which had delivered him from his enemies would now introduce him to his friends.
"It is his angel," they said, "and thou art mad." But her confident affirmations and the continued knocking at last prevailed, and they opened the door, to find that it was even as the girl had said. "And when they had opened, they saw him and were amazed." It was like the Resurrection, when the Saviour, on the Easter night, showed the disciples His hands and His feet, and they disbelieved for joy and wondered. Peter did not enter the house. As soon as he was missed by his guards, search would probably be instituted in the homes of his foremost friends. There must be no presumption on his part. He must use his own wit to evade his foes. Therefore, with a few hurried explanations and directions, with loving greetings to James and the brethren, he departed whilst it was yet dark and went to another place.
We are all liable to find ourselves in prison — the prison of circumstances from which we cannot extricate ourselves; of relationships that restrain our liberty; of consequences issuing from past sins, that threaten us with the silence of death. We sit in darkness, and are bound in affliction and iron. But let us cry unto the Lord in our trouble, let us ask Him to save us out of our distresses. Let us confess our sins and turn to Him for help. He will hear our cry out of the lowest dungeon and will draw near unto us in the day when we call, saying, Fear not. He will plead the causes of our soul, and redeem our life. He will send His Angel noiselessly to loose our chains and open the prison-doors. He will redeem our souls from going down into the pit, and our life shall behold the light.
"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"