Peter had been a leader among the believers in Jerusalem. They had been accustomed to rely on his judgment. They had learned to love him for the manliness of his nature and the generous impulses of his heart; and they could hardly conceive what the Church would be like without him. So it was not all benevolence that moved them to pray; they were afflicted in his affliction. Peter’s extremity was their extremity. Indeed, so far as appears, the concern throughout was felt by them rather than by him. He was, we may suppose, like Paul in that strange dilemma–not knowing what to choose; having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, yet willing to remain in the flesh for their sakes.
This illustrates the unity of the Church of Christ. Let one child in the home be smitten with disease, and all the members of the family are deeply affected. But even more keenly than this, the Christian feels the affliction of a brother in the Lord.
Nothing merges relationship into identity so thoroughly as the gospel. In Christ we are all one; and so each feels the other’s woe. But then, on the other hand, Christ feels with us all; for “in all our afflictions He is afflicted.” This is the true brotherhood. Better than all secret badges or mystic grasps is this “union in Christ.” It opens every Christian’s heart to us, and gives each believer a personal interest in our welfare.
Let us learn, second, the power of earnest, believing, and united prayer. Observe this statement made by the historian: “Prayer was made without ceasing, of the Church unto God for him.” Then mark how the answer came. It was long delayed. The last night had arrived. But at the darkest hour dawn began to break!
We are not warranted to expect such answers as that which in those days of miracle was vouchsafed to the Church of Jerusalem; yet I do not hesitate to say that God would sooner work a miracle like that here described than suffer His faithfulness to fail, or let His cause be put back. The resources of the universe are at His command, and it is equally easy for Him to answer prayer through the ordinary as through the extraordinary.
What we have to remember is that He is the hearer of prayer. We do not thoroughly believe that, or else there would be more definiteness, directness, and what I call business-like purpose in our petitions. We do not receive because we do not ask. Is it not the fact that when we have concluded our devotions, it would often puzzle us to tell what we have been praying for?
When we have asked for certain things, we have become discouraged because we have not had an immediate answer. Have we forgotten the story of the Syrophoenician woman? Or the injunction of the Lord that we are to “knock” that it may be opened unto us? Why are God’s answers delayed? It may be because, in our pride of heart, we are desirous of sharing in the glory of the answer. Have you marked these words in the doxology of the Lord’s prayer, “For Thine is the glory”? When we are willing that all the glory shall go to God, the blessing is not far from our hands.
It may be because God wishes to develop patience in us, or bring our faith to the height of her to whom He said, “Oh, woman, great is thy faith.” If we were more definite in our petitions, and more continuous in our prayers, we should see frequently the results for which we long.
Nonetheless the Church of Jerusalem prayed Peter out of prison. Let that fact alone sustain us.
Let us learn, in the third place, while earthly glory fades, the Word of the Lord endures forever. See how soon Herod disappears. Like foam on the wave, he dazzled men’s eyes for a moment with the reflection of the sunlight; and then, like it too, he burst and disappeared. The shouting of the idolatrous crowd could not keep away retribution from his door. No Roman sentinel could turn back from his palace gate that pale horse which bore the rider whose name is Death. He went to his own place. And all his efforts to retard the progress of the gospel were in vain, for “the word of God grew and multiplied.”