William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Acts 12:7

Observe here, 1. That God hath sometimes made use of the ministry of angels to effect deliverance for his people.

Observe, 2. That several food offices which the angels now did for Peter, in order to his enlargement. Peter is asleep, and angel awakes him; he is laid, the angel raises him; he is amazed, the angel directs him; he is bound, the angel unties him; he knows not where he is, the angel goes before him, and guides him; he is to pass through many difficulties, the angel conducts him.

Lord! How innumerable are the good offices which at thy command the holy angels do for us, though they are not sensibly in this manner apprehended by us! What love and service do we owe to thee! What honour and respect should we pay to them for their care over us, and attendance upon us!

Observe, 3. Peter must arise, gird himself, bind on his sandals, cast his garment about him, follow the angel, and use his own endeavours in order to his own deliverance. God will have him use the means, even then when he was about to work. miracle for him.

What. tempting of God is it then to neglect the means, when we cannot expect miracles!

As to trust to means, is to neglect God, so to neglect the means, is to tempt God. We must always subserve the providence of God in the use of such means as his wisdom has appointed and directed us unto.

Observe lastly, That this deliverance was so amazing and surprizing, that Peter thought it. dream only, Acts 12:9. "He wist not that it was true, but thought he saw. vision."

Learn hence, that sometimes the deliverance of the godly from imminent and apparent dangers, are so very wonderful, and attended with such. crowd of improbabilities, that they have much ado to believe them, though they see them with their eyes. When God turned the captivity of Peter, he was like unto them that dream, Psalms 126:1.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Acts 12:7

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