The Acts Of The Apostles With Notes By L Abbott

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ...to designate to the English reader the real time of the occurrence. The word so rendered is everywhere else in the N. T. translated Passover. 5. But earnest prayer was made. Not vMhovX ceasing, a meaning which the Greek will not bear. For significance, see Luke 22:44, where the original is the same. The object of their prayer is generally assumed to have been the deliverance of Peter; the Lord had before delivered him out of prison (ch. i. ls-s0), and this fact may well have awakened the hopes of the disciples. But as help delayed to come, hope grew less; that they did not really expect his deliverance is evident from their surprise at his appearance (ver. i3). Probably anticipating the death of Peter to follow that of James, their prayer was that he might be rescued if it was the Lord's will, otherwise that he might be strengthened to suffer and die for him. Remembering how before he had denied his Lord, the disciples may well have been intense in their prayer for divine grace to sustain him now. The trial of his faith in this imprisonment and waiting was especially severe to a man of Peter's impetuous disposition, who could dare much, but by nature endure but little. 6. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, that same night. That is, the night before he was expecting to bring him forth for execution.--Peter was sleeping. An indication, when coupled with his subsequent history, of his trust in God, and of his steadfast purpose. If he had been divided in mind between the purpose of fidelity and the desire of personal safety, he would not have slept. Comp. Psalm 127: 2: "He gtveth his beloved sleep;" and, in illustration of this promise, Psalms 3:5; 4:8. Comp., too, the experience of Paul and Silas in prison at Philippi...