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184
Early Writings
which they cherished toward the disciples. Their only hope was to
spread their lying report. And those who wished this lie to be true
accepted it. Pilate trembled as he heard that Christ had risen. He
could not doubt the testimony given, and from that hour peace left
him forever. For the sake of worldly honor, for fear of losing his
authority and his life, he had delivered Jesus to die. He was now
fully convinced that it was not merely an innocent man of whose
blood he was guilty, but the Son of God. Miserable to its close was
the life of Pilate. Despair and anguish crushed every hopeful, joyful
feeling. He refused to be comforted and died a most miserable death.
Herod’s [
It was Herod Antipas who took part in the trial of
Christ, and Herod Agrippa I who put James to death. Agrippa was
nephew and brother-in-law of Antipas. Through intrigue he secured
the throne of Antipas for himself, and on coming to power pursued
the same course toward the Christians that Antipas had followed. In
the Herodian dynasty there were six persons who bore the name of
Herod. It thus served in a measure as a general title, the individuals
being designated by other names, as Antipas, Philip, Agrippa, etc.
So we might say Czar Nicholas, Czar Alexander, etc. In the present
instance this use of the term becomes more natural and appropriate
inasmuch as Agrippa, when he put James to death, occupied the
throne of Antipas, who a little before had been concerned in the
trial of Christ; and he manifested the same character. It was the
same Herodian spirit, only in another personality, as “the dragon”
of
Revelation 12:17
is the same as the dragon of
verse 3
, the real
inspiring power in each being the dragon of
verse 9
. In the one
case he works through pagan Rome; in the other through our own
government.
] heart had grown still harder; and when he heard that
Christ had risen, he was not much troubled. He took the life of
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James, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter
also, intending to put him to death. But God had a work for Peter
to do, and sent his angel to deliver him. Herod was visited with the
judgments of God. While exalting himself in the presence of a great
multitude, he was smitten by the angel of the Lord, and died a most
horrible death.
Early in the morning of the first day of the week, before it was yet
light, holy women came to the sepulcher, bringing sweet spices to
anoint the body of Jesus. They found that the heavy stone had been