(Concluded.)
EGW
On this last night before the proposed execution, a mighty angel is sent from heaven to rescue Peter. The strong gates that shut in the saint of God open without the aid of human hands. The angel of the Most High passes through, and they close noiselessly behind him. He enters the cell; and there lies Peter, sleeping the blessed, peaceful sleep of innocence and perfect trust. The light that surrounds the angel fills the cell, but does not waken the apostle. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 1
Peter is not aroused until he feels the touch of the angel's hand, and hears his voice saying, “Arise up quickly.” He sees 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 in rising, lifts his hands, and finds that the chains have fallen from his wrists. Again the voice of the heavenly messenger is heard, “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 with 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. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 2
The second gate, also guarded within and without, is reached. It opens as did the first, with no creaking of hinges, no 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. Street after street is threaded thus, and then, the mission of the angel being accomplished, he suddenly disappears. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 3
As the heavenly light faded away, Peter felt himself to be in profound darkness; but as he became accustomed to this, it gradually seemed to lessen, and he saw that he was alone in the silent street, with the cool night air blowing upon his brow. He now realized that it was no dream nor vision which had come to him. He was free, in a familiar part of the city; he recognized the place as one which he had often frequented, and had expected to pass on the morrow for the last time. He tried to recall the events of the last 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. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 4
His wrists, swollen from wearing the cruel irons, were now free from the manacles; and he realized that his freedom was no delusion, but a blessed reality. On the morrow he was to have been led forth to die; but lo, an angel has delivered him from prison and from death. “And when Peter had 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.” RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 5
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 harken, 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 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 he departed, and went into another place.” RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 6
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. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 7
In the morning the 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 guard, in order to insure against his escape, to intimidate all sympathizers, and to show the power of the king. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 8
Meanwhile, when the prison guard 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 within; but the prisoner was gone. The God of heaven had thwarted the purpose of the wicked king, and had delivered his servant. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 9
When the report of Peter's escape was brought to Herod, he was exasperated and enraged, and he charged the prison guard with unfaithfulness. They were accordingly put to death. Herod knew that no human power had rescued Peter, but he was determined not to acknowledge that divine power had frustrated his design. Refusing to humiliate himself, he set himself in bold defiance against God. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 10
Not long after Peter's deliverance from prison, Herod went to Caesarea. While there, he made a grand festival designed to excite the admiration and 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 multitude, 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 power of his well-chosen language swayed the assembly with a mighty influence. Their senses were already perverted by feasting and wine; they were dazzled by Herod's decorations and charmed by his deportment and his words; and wild with enthusiasm, they showered adulation upon him, declaring that mortal man, could not present such an appearance, nor command such startling eloquence. They further declared that they had ever respected him as a ruler, but from henceforth they would worship him as a god. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 11
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 acknowledge Christ, whose garments, coarse and often travel-stained, covered a heart of divine love, rich with the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit. Their eyes, blinded by sin, refused to see, under the humble exterior, the Lord of life and glory, even though his power was revealed in works that no mere man could do. But they were ready to bow down and worship as a god the haughty king, whose splendid garments of silver and gold covered a corrupt, cruel heart. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 12
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 was on 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 as pallid as death, and was 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.” RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 13
Suffering the most excruciating anguish, he was borne from the scene of wicked revelry and display. A moment before he had been the proud recipient of the praise and worship of that vast throng; now he felt 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, 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 revenge 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;” and he knew that in accepting the worship of the people, he had filled up the measure of his iniquity, and had brought upon himself the just wrath of Jehovah. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 14
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. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 15
This demonstration of divine justice had a mighty 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 were the means of leading many to believe on Christ. RH May 4, 1911, Art. A, par. 16