Acts 12:5

¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Peter {G4074}{G3303} therefore {G3767} was kept {G5083} in {G1722} prison {G5438}: but {G1161} prayer {G4335} was {G2258} made {G1096} without ceasing {G1618} of {G5259} the church {G1577} unto {G4314} God {G2316} for {G5228} him {G846}.

So Kefa was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.

Commentary

Acts 12:5 powerfully illustrates the early church's response to crisis and persecution: fervent, continuous prayer. This verse sets the stage for one of the most remarkable deliverances in the New Testament, highlighting the community's unwavering faith in God's intervention.

Context

This verse is situated during a period of intense persecution against the nascent Christian community in Jerusalem. King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, sought to gain favor with the Jewish authorities by persecuting believers. He had already executed James, the brother of John, with the sword (Acts 12:2). Seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to arrest Peter, intending to bring him to public trial after the Passover festival. Peter was heavily guarded in prison, facing a similar fate to James. In this dire situation, the church did not resort to political maneuvering or armed resistance, but to a powerful spiritual weapon.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Prayer: The central message is the profound impact of collective, earnest prayer. Despite Peter's seemingly inescapable predicament, the church believed in God's ability to intervene, demonstrating a deep reliance on divine power rather than human strength. This echoes the biblical principle that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".
  • Corporate Unity and Support: The phrase "of the church" emphasizes that this was not just individual prayer but a unified, communal effort. In times of adversity, the early believers rallied together, demonstrating their solidarity and mutual care. This unity in prayer is a vital aspect of Christian community.
  • Perseverance in Prayer: The phrase "without ceasing" underscores the persistent and continuous nature of their prayers. They did not pray once and give up, but maintained a constant petition, reflecting the instruction to "pray without ceasing" found elsewhere in Scripture.
  • God's Sovereignty and Intervention: While the verse focuses on the church's action, it implicitly points to God's ultimate sovereignty. Their fervent prayer was a recognition that God was able to act, and indeed, the subsequent verses reveal a miraculous divine intervention (Acts 12:7-11).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase translated "without ceasing" is ektenōs (ἐκτενῶς). This adverb means "intensely," "earnestly," "fervently," or "stretched out." It conveys a sense of zealous, persistent, and heartfelt effort in prayer, not merely continuous in time but intense in quality. It suggests a prayer that is poured out with great emotional and spiritual energy, reflecting the urgency and gravity of Peter's situation.

Practical Application

Acts 12:5 serves as a timeless encouragement for believers today. It reminds us of the profound impact of prayer, especially when facing seemingly impossible circumstances or when loved ones are in distress. It calls us to:

  • Pray fervently and persistently: Do not grow weary in prayer, but continue to bring petitions before God with earnestness.
  • Engage in corporate prayer: Recognize the power and importance of praying together as a community, supporting one another in faith.
  • Trust in God's ability to intervene: Even when situations appear hopeless, remember that God hears and answers the prayers of His people, often in miraculous ways that surpass human understanding.
  • Respond to persecution with prayer: When facing adversity or seeing others persecuted for their faith, let our first response be to turn to God in prayer.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 12:26 (19 votes)

    And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

  • James 5:16 (16 votes)

    Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  • Ephesians 6:18 (14 votes)

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

  • Ephesians 6:20 (14 votes)

    For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (14 votes)

    Pray without ceasing.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:11 (12 votes)

    Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

  • Matthew 18:19 (12 votes)

    Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.