_A GREAT APOSTLE_ ‘James the brother of John.’ Acts 12:2 Within the broad circle of the Apostles’ characters, their lives, histories, examples, the follower of Christ finds experiences which he, to some extent at all events, walks amongst and shares in. James and John, sons of Zebedee and Salome... [ Continue Reading ]
_SLAIN BY THE SWORD_ ‘And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.’ Acts 12:2 The death of St. James is one of those events which, at first sight, seems so unintelligible to our minds. He was one of the first groups of the Apostles; and yet, almost without notice, according to the narr... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘ANSWERED PRAYERS’_ ‘Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.’ Acts 12:5 ‘But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.’ Philemon 1:22 The two passages taken together, and con... [ Continue Reading ]
_A CHRISTIAN PRISONER_ ‘Peter therefore was kept in prison.’ Acts 12:5 There are prisons and prisons. If we could read each other’s hearts, I am afraid we should find many a disciple needing deliverance to-day almost as much as St. Peter did on this memorable occasion. Look at this story as a pic... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHURCH AT PRAYER_ ‘Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.’ Acts 12:5 ‘More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of,’ or that the Church dreams of either, for that matter. When this prayer was answered, the Church could not believe it true, and as for S... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAN’S EXTREMITY, GOD’S OPPORTUNITY_ ‘And his chains fell of from his hands.’ Acts 12:7 How was prayer answered for St. Peter, and when? Not till the last moment. St. Peter _ was at the last extremity;_ a few hours more and all would have been over; he was to have been executed in the sight of al... [ Continue Reading ]