So Peter was under guard in jail, but the church ceaselessly prayed to God for him.
12:5 — So Pedro was guarded in jail; but the church prayed without ceasing (fervent, NASB) to God for him. Did the church use memorized prayers? Did he use “vain repetitions”? Rather, his prayer was a true prayer to God. The devil’s servants used prisons, chains and weapons, but God’s servants had stronger “weaponry”: prayer. If God wants to save us, all the forces of the devil cannot destroy us. as it says pro 10:25, “As the whirlwind passes away, so the evil one does not remain; But the righteous remain forever.” This was another crisis for the church and in such circumstances their main weapon is prayer. Her first thought should be to earnestly pray (ektenes) to God. The Valera Version says “without ceasing” (Acts 26:7, “constantly” or “faithfully”, LBLA). It is the same word that is translated “intensely” in Luke 22:44; 1Pe 1:22, literally, “fervently”. The church prayed fervently and without ceasing (without fainting), because it seemed to them that they were going to lose Peter too. Furthermore, they themselves could be arrested and flogged or imprisoned for continuing to pray, but like Daniel they persevered in prayer. How many times do we earnestly pray to the Lord? Jesus teaches us that we must pray without giving up and teaches us how we must pray. This verse says that “the church prayed unceasingly to God for him”; says v. 12, “he arrived at the house of Mary… where many were gathered praying”; and then Peter said (v. 17), “Make this known to James and the brothers.” What other alternative did they have? Compare 4:23-30. What did he ask for? We don’t know, but since God had allowed the enemy to kill Stephen and James, what hope was there that Peter would escape with his life? If you asked God to save your life, did you pray with faith? Jas 1:6. If they asked for this and if they asked in faith, why did they say to Rode, “You’re crazy” when she announced that Peter was at the door? (verses 13-15). Possibly they asked that Peter’s faith not fail (Luke 22:32) and die like Esteban. Paul requested the prayers of the brothers for himself and his companions: 1Thess 5:25“Brothers, pray for us”; 2Thess 3:1-2, “pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread and be glorified, as it was among you, and so that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; because it is not everyone’s faith”; Eph 6:18-19, “praying at all times… and for me, so that when I open my mouth, word may be given to me to boldly make known the mystery of the gospel.” Surely the church prayed according to 21:14“The will of the Lord be done.”
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
the church prayed without ceasing. Ac 12:12; Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7; Matt 18:19; Luke 18:1; 1Co 12:26; 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:18-20; 1Thess 5:17; Hebrews 13:3; Jas 5:16.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
Pedro He was arrested and was on the execution list just like James (v. Acts 12:2). However, he postponed his execution because it was against Jewish Law to hold a trial or sentence during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, better known as Passover. This was Pedro’s third arrest (Acts 4:3; Ac 5:18). During a previous incarceration, Pedro had a miraculous escape with the help of an angel of God who opened the prison doors (Ac 5:19, Ac 5:20). On this occasion, he was imprisoned with maximum security in the care of four groups of four men. These soldiers worked in three-hour shifts. Both of Pedro’s wrists were chained and he had a soldier on each side. Outside the cell, two more soldiers stood guard.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
CHURCH. From the book of Acts as well as from other passages in the NT, the norms or rules of authority for a New Testament church emerge.
(1) First of all, the church will be made up of people organized in local congregations and united by the Holy Spirit, who diligently seek a faithful personal relationship with God (Acts 13:2; Acts 16:5; Acts 20:7; Romans 16:3-4; 1Co 16:19; 2Co 11:28; Hebrews 11:6note).
(2) Through his powerful witness, sinners will be saved, born again, baptized in water, and incorporated into the church; partake of the Lord’s Supper and await the return of Christ (Acts 2:41-42; Ac 4:33; Ac 5:14; Ac 11:24; 1Co 11:26).
(3) The baptism in the Holy Spirit will be preached and communicated to new believers (see Ac 2:39note), and the presence and power of the Spirit will be manifested.
(4) The gifts of the Holy Spirit will be in operation (Romans 12:6-8; 1Co 12:4-11; Eph 4:11-12), including wonders, signs, and healings (Ac 2:18; Ac 2:43; Ac 4:30; Ac 5:12; Acts 6:8; Ac 14:10; Ac 19:11; Acts 28:8; Tue 16:18).
(5) Believers will cast out demons (Ac 5:16; Acts 8:7; Ac 16:18; Ac 19:12; Tue 16:17).
(6) There will be absolute allegiance to the gospel, that is, to the original teaching of Christ and the apostles (Ac 2:42; see Eph 2:20, note). Believers will consecrate themselves to the study and obedience of the Word of God (Acts 6:4; Ac 18:11; Romans 15:18; Col 3:16; 2Ti 2:15).
(7) The first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1Co 16:2), the local congregation will come together to worship and build each other up through the written Word of God and the manifestations of the Spirit (1Co 12:7-11; 1Co 14:26; 1Ti 5:17).
(8) The church will stand in humility, reverence and fear before a holy God (Ac 5:11). Believers will care deeply about the purity of the church, disciplining sinful members and disloyal false teachers to biblical faith (Ac 20:28; 1Co 5:1-13; see Matt 18:15note).
(9) Those who have persevered in godly character and in the standards of righteousness established by the apostles will be ordained as elders to oversee the local churches and ensure their spiritual life (Matt 18:15note; 1Co 5:1-5; 1Ti 1:5-9; see ARTICLE BISHOPS AND THEIR DUTIES, P. 1554. ).
(10) Likewise, the church will have deacons responsible for the temporal and material affairs of the church (see 1Ti 3:8note).
(11) There will be evident love and fellowship in the Spirit among the members (Ac 2:42; Acts 2:44-46; see Joh 13:34note), not only within local congregations but also among other congregations of biblical faith (Acts 15:1-31; 2Co 8:1-8).
(12) The church will pray and fast (Ac 1:14; Acts 6:4; Acts 12:5; Acts 13:2; Romans 12:13; Col 4:2; Eph 6:18).
(13) Believers will turn away from the world’s rooted criteria and from the materialistic tendency of the culture in which they live (Ac 2:40; Romans 12:2; 2Co 6:17; Gal 1:4; 1Jn 2:15-16).
(14) There will be suffering and affliction because of the world and its customs (Acts 4:1-3; Ac 5:40; Ac 9:16; Ac 14:22).
(15) The church will contribute to send missionaries to other nations (Ac 2:39; Acts 13:2-4).
No local church has the right to call itself a church by NT standards unless it is striving to put those fifteen characteristics into practice. See ARTICLE THE CHURCH, P. 1312. for additional study on the biblical doctrine of the church.
Source: Full Life Study Bible
HE MADE PRAYER WITHOUT CEASE. NT believers met persecution with fervent prayer. The situation seemed unbearable: James was already dead and Herod had Peter in the custody of sixteen soldiers. However, the early church lived with the conviction that “the effective prayer of the righteous can do much” (Jas 5:16), and prayed fervently and constantly for Pedro’s situation. His prayer was answered almost immediately (vv. Acts 12:6-17). NT churches often engaged in group prayer (Acts 1:4; Ac 2:42; Acts 4:24-31; Acts 12:5; Ac 12:12; Acts 13:2). God wants his people to come together to pray fervently; note the words of Jesus Christ: “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matt 21:13). Churches that claim to base their theology, practice, and mission on the divine pattern revealed in the book of Acts and other NT writings should practice fervent group prayer as a vital element of their worship, and not just for a minute or two each. worship. In the early church the power and presence of God accompanied the prayer meetings. No effort of preaching, teaching, singing, music, or activity will produce the genuine power and presence of the Holy Spirit without that New Testament prayer in which the believers “continued with one accord” (Ac 1:14).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
12:5 — So Peter was guarded in prison; but the church prayed without ceasing (fervent, NASB) to God for him. Did the church use memorized prayers? Did he use “vain repetitions”? Rather, his prayer was a true prayer to God.
The devil’s servants used prisons, chains and weapons, but God’s servants had stronger “weaponry”: prayer. If God wants to save us, all the forces of the devil cannot destroy us. As Pro 10:25 says, “As the whirlwind passes away, so the evil one does not remain; But the righteous remain forever.”
This was another crisis for the church and in such circumstances their main weapon is prayer. Her first thought should be to earnestly pray (ektenes) to God. The Valera Version says “without ceasing” (Acts 26:7, “constantly” or “faithfully”, NASB). It is the same word that is translated “intensely” in Luke 22:44; 1Pe 1:22, literally “earnestly.” The church prayed fervently and without ceasing (without fainting), because it seemed to them that they were going to lose Peter too. Furthermore, they themselves could be arrested and flogged or imprisoned for continuing to pray, but like Daniel they persevered in prayer.
How many times do we earnestly pray to the Lord? Jesus teaches us that we must pray without giving up and teaches us how we must pray. This verse says that “the church prayed unceasingly to God for him”; says v. 12, “he came to the house of Mary… where many were gathered together praying”; and then Peter said (v. 17), “Make this known to James and to the brethren.”
What other alternative did they have? Compare 4:23-30.
What did you ask for? We don’t know, but since God had allowed the enemy to kill Stephen and James, what hope was there that Peter would escape with his life? If you asked God to save your life, did you pray with faith? Jas 1:6. If they asked for this and if they asked in faith, why did they say to Rode, “You’re crazy” when she announced that Peter was at the door? (verses 13-15).
Possibly they asked that Peter’s faith not fail (Luke 22:32) and that he die like Stephen.
Paul asked for the prayers of the brothers for himself and his companions: 1Thess 5:25, “Brothers, pray for us”; 2Thes 3:1-2, “pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread and be glorified, as it was among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; because it is not everyone’s faith”; Eph 6:18-19, “praying at all times… and for me, so that when I open my mouth, word may be given to me to boldly make known the mystery of…