Chapter 26—Deliverance of Peter
Herod was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith, and appar-
ently very zealous in perpetuating the ceremonies of the law. The
government of Judea was in his hands, subject to Claudius, the Roman
emperor; he also held the position of tetrarch of Galilee. Herod was
anxious to obtain the favor of the Jews, hoping thus to make secure
his offices and honors. He therefore proceeded to carry out the de-
sires of the Jews in persecuting the church of Christ. He began his
work by spoiling the houses and goods of the believers; he then began
to imprison the leading ones. He seized upon James and cast him
into prison, and there sent an executioner to kill him with a sword,
as another Herod had caused the prophet John to be beheaded. He
then became bolder, seeing that the Jews were well pleased with his
acts, and imprisoned Peter. These cruelties were performed during the
sacred occasion of the passover.
James was one of the three favored disciples who had been brought
into the closest relationship with Christ. James, John, and Peter were
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his chief witnesses after his death. They saw the transfiguration of
the Saviour, and beheld him glorified. They were in the garden with
him during the night of his agony. James and John were the sons of
Zebedee, the ones whom Jesus had asked, “Are ye able to drink of
the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that
I am baptized with?” When James was rudely thrust into prison, and
unceremoniously summoned to execution, he understood more fully
than ever before, the words of his Lord upon that occasion.
There was great grief and consternation at the death of James.
When Peter was also imprisoned, the entire church engaged in fasting
and prayer. While the Jews were celebrating the memorial of their
deliverance from Egypt, and pretending great zeal for the law, they
were at the same time persecuting and murdering the believers in
Christ, thus transgressing every principle of that law. At these great
religious gatherings they stirred one another up against the Christians,
till they were united in a bitter hatred of them.
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