the acts of the apostles-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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

150

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。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　151


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

152

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　experience　of　Philip；　directed　by　an　angel　from　heaven　to　go　to　the
place　where　he　met　one　seeking　for　truth；　of　Cornelius；　visited　by　an　angel
with　a　message　from　God；　of　Peter；　in　prison　and　condemned　to　death；　led　by
an　angel　forth　to　safetyall　show　the　closeness　of　the　connection　between
heaven　and　earth。

To　the　worker　for　God　the　record　of　these　angel　visits　should　bring　strength
and　courage。　Today；　as　verily　as　in　the　days　of　the　apostles；　heavenly
messengers　are　passing　through　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　land；　seeking
to　comfort　the　sorrowing；　to　protect　the　impenitent；　to　win　the　hearts　of
men　to　Christ。　We　cannot　see　them　personally；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　153

nevertheless　they　are　with　us；　guiding；　directing；　protecting。

Heaven　is　brought　near　to　earth　by　that　mystic　ladder；　the　base　of　which　is
firmly　planted　on　the　earth；　while　the　topmost　round　reaches　the　throne　of
the　Infinite。　Angels　are　constantly　ascending　and　descending　this　ladder　of
shining　brightness；　bearing　the　prayers　of　the　needy　and　distressed　to　the
Father　above；　and　bringing　blessing　and　hope；　courage　and　help；　to　the
children　of　men。　These　angels　of　light　create　a　heavenly　atmosphere　about
the　soul；　lifting　us　toward　the　unseen　and　the　eternal。　We　cannot　behold
their　forms　with　our　natural　sight；　only　by　spiritual　vision　can　we　discern
heavenly　things。　The　spiritual　ear　alone　can　hear　the　harmony　of　heavenly
voices。

〃The　angel　of　the　Lord　encampeth　round　about　them　that　fear　Him；　and
delivereth　them。〃　Psalm　34：7。　God　commissions　His　angels　to　save　His　chosen
ones　from　calamity；　to　guard　them　from　〃the　pestilence　that　walketh　in
darkness〃　and　〃the　destruction　that　wasteth　at　noonday。〃　Psalm　91：6。　Again
and　again　have　angels　talked　with　men　as　a　man　speaketh　with　a　friend；　and
led　them　to　places　of　security。　Again　and　again　have　the　encouraging　words
of　angels　renewed　the　drooping　spirits　of　the　faithful　and；　carrying　their
minds　above　the　things　of　earth；　caused　them　to　behold　by　faith　the　white
robes；　the　crowns；　the　palm　branches　of　victory；　which　overcomers　will
receive　when　they　surround　the　great　white　throne。

It　is　the　work　of　the　angels　to　come　close　to　the　tried；　the　suffering；　the
tempted。　They　labor　untiringly　in　behalf

154

of　those　for　whom　Christ　died。　When　sinners　are　led　to　give　themselves　to
the　Saviour；　angels　bear　the　tidings　heavenward；　and　there　is　great
rejoicing　among　the　heavenly　host。　〃Joy　shall　be　in　heaven　over　one　sinner
that　repenteth；　more　than　over　ninety　and　nine　just　persons；　which　need　no
repentance。〃　Luke　15：7。　A　report　is　borne　to　heaven　of　every　successful
effort　on　our　part　to　dispel　the　darkness　and　to　spread　abroad　the　knowledge
of　Christ。　As　the　deed　is　recounted　before　the　Father；　joy　thrills　through
all　the　heavenly　host。

The　principalities　and　powers　of　heaven　are　watching　the　warfare　which；
under　apparently　discouraging　circumstances；　God's　servants　are　carrying　on。
New　conquests　are　being　achieved；　new　honors　won；　as　the　Christians；
rallying　round　the　banner　of　their　Redeemer；　go　forth　to　fight　the　good
fight　of　faith。　All　the　heavenly　angels　are　at　the　service　of　the　humble；
believing　people　of　God；　and　as　the　Lord's　army　of　workers　here　below　sing
their　songs　of　praise；　the　choir　above　join　with　them　in　ascribing　praise　to
God　and　to　His　Son。

We　need　to　understand　better　than　we　do　the　mission　of　the　angels。　It　would
be　well　to　remember　that　every　true　child　of　God　has　the　co…operation　of
heavenly　beings。　Invisible　armies　of　light　and　power　attend　the　meek　and
lowly　ones　who　believe　and　claim　the　promises　of　God。　Cherubim　and　seraphim；
and　angels　that　excel　in　strength；　stand　at　God's　right　hand；　〃all
ministering　spirits；　sent　forth　to　minister　for　them　who　shall　be　heirs　of
salvation。〃　Hebrews　1：14。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（155）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　16

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Gospel　Message　in　Antioch


After　the　disciples　had　been　driven　from　Jerusalem　by　persecution；　the
gospel　message　spread　rapidly　through　the　regions　lying　beyond　the　limits　of
Palestine；　and　many　small　companies　of　believers　were　formed　in　important
centers。　Some　of　the　disciples　〃traveled　as　far　as　Phenice；　and　Cyprus；　and
Antioch；　preaching　the　word。〃　Their　labors　were　usually　confined　to　the
Hebrew　and　Greek　Jews；　large　colonies　of　whom　were　at　this　time　to　be　found
in　nearly　all　the　cities　of　the　world。

Among　the　places　mentioned　where　the　gospel　was　gladly　received　is　Antioch；
at　that　time　the　metropolis　of　Syria。　The　extensive　commerce　carried　on　from
that　populous　center　brought　to　the　city　many　people　of　various
nationalities。　Besides；　Antioch　was　favorably　known　as　a　resort　for　lovers
of　ease　and　pleasure；　because　of　its　healthful　situation；　its　beautiful
surroundings；　and　the　wealth；　culture；　and　refinement

156

to　be　found　there。　In　the　days　of　the　apostles　it