Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
Parallel translations
- KJV Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
- BSB So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- NKJV Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
- NASB So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church.
- NLT But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed earnestly to God for him. The believers respond to crisis with fervent, united prayer.
Overview
Against Herod's guards the church wields the weapon of constant prayer. Luke draws a deliberate contrast between human imprisonment and the church's appeal to God. The verse teaches that the believers' first recourse in trouble is earnest, corporate prayer, trusting God to act.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Cor 12:26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
- Jas 5:16Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
- 1 Th 5:17Pray without ceasing.
- Eph 6:18–20with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
- 2 Cor 1:11you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
- Matt 18:19Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
- Luke 18:1He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
- Acts 12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
- Isa 62:6–7I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest,
- Heb 13:3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 12:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.