| Angels
in Scripture ANGELS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Two of the best known Angelic appearances in the New Testament are the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Angel's announcemnt to the shepherds at Bethlehem of the birth of the Savior. The first account is in the Annuncia directory. On this page we present two of the lesser known appearances:ST. PETER
DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL: ACTS, CHAPTER 12 VIEW DETAIL OF
THE ANGEL-----VIEW DETAIL OF SAINT PETER [1] And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. [2] And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. [3] And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes. [4] And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people. [5] Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. [3] "Azymes"... The festival of the unleavened bread, or the pasch, which answers to our Easter. [6] And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. [7] And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. [8] And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. [9] And going out, he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by the Angel: but thought he saw a vision. [10] And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the angel departed from him. [11] And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. [12] And considering, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying. [13] And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, whose name was Rhode. [14] And as soon as she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate. [15] But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his Angel.  AN ANGEL APPEARS TO ST. PAUL: ACTS, CHAPTER 27 Paul is shipped for Rome. His voyage and shipwreck.[1] And when it was determined that he should sail into Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be delivered to a centurion, named Julius, of the band Augusta, [2] Going on board a ship of Adrumetum, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia, Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, continuing with us. [3] And the day following we came to Sidon. And Julius treating Paul courteously, permitted him to go to his friends, and to take care of himself. [4] And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. [5] And sailing over the sea of Cilicia, and Pamphylia, we came to Lystra, which is in Lycia: [6] And there the centurion finding a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy, removed us into it. [7] And when for many days we had sailed slowly, and were scarce come over against Gnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed near Crete by Salmone: [8] And with much ado sailing by it, we came into a certain place, which is called Good-havens, nigh to which was the city of Thalassa. [9] And when much time was spent, and when sailing now was dangerous, because the fast was now past, Paul comforted them, [10] Saying to them: Ye men, I see that the voyage beginneth to be with injury and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. [11] But the centurion believed the pilot and the master of the ship, more than those things which were said by Paul. [12] And whereas it was not a commodious haven to winter in, the greatest part gave counsel to sail thence, if by any means they might reach Phenice to winter there, which is a haven of Crete, looking towards the southwest and northwest. [13] And the south wind gently blowing, thinking that they had obtained their purpose, when they had loosed from Asson, they sailed close by Crete. [14] But not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroaquilo. [15] And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up against the wind, giving up the ship to the winds, we were driven. [16] And running under a certain island, that is called Cauda, we had much work to come by the boat. [17] Which being taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, they let down the sail yard, and so were driven. [18] And we being mightily tossed with the tempest, the next day they lightened the ship. [19] And the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship. [20] And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay on us, all hope of our being saved was now taken away. [21] And after they had fasted a long time, Paul standing forth in the midst of them, said: You should indeed, O ye men, have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and have gained this harm and loss. [22] And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but only of the ship. [23] For an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, stood by me this night, [24] Saying: Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar; and behold, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall so be, as it hath been told me. [26] And we must come unto a certain island. [27] But after the fourteenth night was come, as we were sailing in Adria, about midnight, the shipmen deemed that they discovered some country. [28] Who also sounding, found twenty fathoms; and going on a little further, they found fifteen fathoms. [29] Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. [30] But as the shipmen sought to fly out of the ship, having let down the boat into the sea, under colour, as though they would have cast anchors out of the forepart of the ship, [31] Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers: Except these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved. [32] Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. [33] And when it began to be light, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited, and continued fasting, taking nothing. [34] Wherefore I pray you to take some meat for your health's sake; for there shall not an hair of the head of any of you perish. [35] And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat. [36] Then were they all of better cheer, and they also took some meat. [37] And we were in all in the ship, two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. [38] And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea. [39] And when it was day, they knew not the land; but they discovered a certain creek that had a shore, into which they minded, if they could, to thrust in the ship. [40] And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosing withal the rudder bands; and hoisting up the mainsail to the wind, they made towards shore. [41] And when we were fallen into a place where two seas met, they run the ship aground; and the forepart indeed, sticking fast, remained unmoveable: but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the sea. [42] And the soldiers' counsel was, that they should kill the prisoners, lest any of them, swimming out, should escape. [43] But the centurion, willing to save Paul, forbade it to be done; and he commanded that they who could swim, should cast themselves first into the sea, and save themselves, and get to land. [44] And the rest, some they carried on boards, and some on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it came to pass, that every soul got safe to land. WHY ARE WE NOT HELPED MORE BY THE ANGELS? Remember well, dear visitor, that the Angels came to help the Apostles in answer to fervent prayer. Frequently, we do not receive the help of the Angels, simply because we do not pray as we ought. In all our needs we should pray with devotion to the Angels, and we shall receive their "all-powerful" help. |
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