Acts 12:5
in Acts 12So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
KJV
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
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This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence · Written before 523.
And again when Simon was bound in prison, it is written that the whole church prayed. And in every place is it written concerning the Apostles that they fasted and prayed, for they also tarried in this service of fasting and abstinence after they had …
This site's exposition
He arrested him
on Acts 12:4-5
Peter is guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, sixteen men in four watches, and Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. The Greek word is pascha, which the King James renders Easter, the word of the translators' own day for the feast still running. Against that guard Luke sets one thing: the church was fervently praying to God for him.
This site's exposition
the church was fervently praying to God
The word fervently is the one Luke used of Jesus praying in Gethsemane at Luke 22:44. It pictures prayer stretched out at full strength. Peter uses the same word for love at 1 Peter 1:22.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Peter therefore was kept in prison. But this was all the better for Peter, who was thereby made more approved, and evinced his own manly courage. And it says, "there was earnest prayer making." It was the prayer of filial affection: it was for a father they asked, a father mild. "There was," it says, "earnest prayer." Hear how they were affected to their teachers. No factions, no perturbation: but they betook them to prayer, to that alliance which is indeed invincible, to this they betook them for refuge. They did not say, "What? I, poor insignificant creature that I am, to pray for him!" for, as they acted of love, they did not give these things a thought. And observe, it was during the feast, that their enemies brought these trials upon them, that their worth might be the more approved.
So Peter was kept in the prison. They, being at large, were at prayer: he, bound, was in sleep.
A commentator
Severus of AntiochCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12.5 · Written before 538.
proposed
This we urge you, by both supplications and tears, to contribute to us—insignificant ones. For the shared sufferings of the church call for shared prayers, just as when Peter, the head of the apostles, was bound in prison by two chains and watched over by …
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. For the contest was now for life and death: both the slaying of the one made them fearful, and the casting of the other into prison.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Listen to how they interceded for their teachers: they did not revolt, they did not rebel, but turned to the true ally — prayer.
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
James must be offered upon the sacrifice and service of their faith, and therefore prayer for him is restrained and prevented; but Peter must be continued to them, and therefore prayer for him is stirred up, and time is given them for it, by Herod's putting off the prosecution.
Continual prayer was made for him - Yet when their prayer was answered, they could scarce believe it, ver. 15. But why had they not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death as soon as apprehended.
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Peter therefore was kept in prison,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But prayer was made - The church was apprised of his imprisonment and danger, and had no resource but to apply to God by prayer. In scenes of danger there is no other refuge; and the result shows that even in most discouraging circumstances God can hear prayer. Nothing scarcely could appear more hopeless than the idea of rescuing Peter out of the hands of Herod, and out of the prison, and out of the custody of sixteen men, by prayer. But the prayer of faith Was prevalent with God. Without ceasing - Intense, steady, ardent prayer.
Prayer was made without ceasing - The Greek word εκτενης signifies both fervor and earnestness, as well as perseverance. These prayers of the Church produced that miraculous interference mentioned below, and without which Peter could not have thus escaped from the hands of this ruthless king.
Modern Voices2 voices
Prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. They did not seem to be concerned whether Herod should die or not. They did not pray that they might escape Peter's fate.
When Herod arrested and jailed Peter for preaching the Gospel, prayer warriors began joining together to intercede. God heard the great chorus of petitions and sent an angel to Peter.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | Indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| Πέτρος | petros | Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| ἐτηρεῖτο | etereito | was kept | G5083 → | 70 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φυλακῇ· | phulakea | prison; | G5438 → | 47 times |
| προσευχὴ | proseuche | prayer | G4335 → | 35 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐκτενῶς | ektenos | fervently | G1619 → | |
| γινομένη | ginomene | being made | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
Ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
μὲνIndeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ΠέτροςPeter
petrosG4074 →155 times
ἐτηρεῖτοwas kept
etereitoG5083 →70 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
φυλακῇ·prison;
phulakeaG5438 →47 times
προσευχὴprayer
proseucheG4335 →35 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
ἐκτενῶςfervently
ektenosG1619 →
γινομένηbeing made
ginomeneG1096 →667 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
αὐτοῦ.him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
it leads to
- Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Romans 12:12
Through
James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
- Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
- Psalms 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
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About Acts
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Benny Hinn, Good Morning Holy Spirit devotional (bennyhinn.org); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Leonard Ravenhill, Faith Laughs at Impossibilities; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament; Severus of Antioch, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12.5 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.