Blessed Lord so often demanding faith in Himself and His doctrine (see, for example, chapter XV). There is only one true God, one Saviour, and one true faith, which Jesus Christ taught and bequeathed to the Church that He founded. Any indifference in matters of faith, or any admiration of it in others must come from a want of firm religious convictions, and is a grievous sin against faith.
The name of Christian means a disciple and adherent, a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a glorious title to bear, and is a continual exhortation to us who do bear it, to cling to our Lord by a firm faith and true love, to keep His commandments, and to follow His example.
Application. You may take example from the centurion Cornelius. He was not a Christian, and yet he feared God; he prayed continually, and did good to his neighbour. You are a Christian, and yet how lukewarm and negligent you are in your prayers! How little account you make of sin! How little love you bear to your neighbour!
Chapter XCIII.
PETER IN PRISON (A. D. 42).
[Acts 12, 1 — 25.]
HEROD Agrippa[1], grandson of that Herod who had caused the little children of Bethlehem to be slaughtered, was now reigning in Judaea. Wishing to find favour with the Jews, he began to persecute the disciples of Jesus; and having put James[2] the brother of John to death, he caused Peter[3] to be arrested and thrown into prison.
As it was the time of the Jewish Passover, Herod gave the apostle in charge to four files[4] of soldiers, that they might guard him till after the festival time, when he meant to put him to
- ↑ Herod Agrippa. Was a brother of the wicked Herodias (see chapter XXXII). He had been brought up in Rome, and was the friend of the Roman emperors Caligula and Claudius. These emperors gradually gave him complete dominion over Palestine, as well as the title of king. The Jews detested him both for his pagan tendencies and for the favour in which he stood at Rome; and it was in order to make himself more popular with them that he persecuted the Christians.
- ↑ James. Known as St. James the Greater. He was the first among the apostles to give his life for his Master.
- ↑ Peter. Who, as supreme pastor of the Church, was especially hateful to the unbelieving Jews.
- ↑ To four files. Each file consisting of four soldiers.
