Acts 12 · Verse 5

Acts 12:5

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Acts 12:5, King James Version

Acts 12:5 in other translations

BSBSo Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
WEBPeter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
ASVPeter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
YLTPeter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him,
DARBYPeter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.
BBESo Peter was kept in prison: but the church made strong prayer to God for him.
WebsterPeter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him.

What does Acts 12:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:5-6
5-6. prayer was made without ceasing--rather, "instant," "earnest," "urgent" (Margin); as in Lu 22:44; Ac 26:7; and 1Pe 4:8 (see Greek). of the church unto God for him--not in public assembly, for it was evidently not safe to meet thus; but in little groups in private houses, one of which was Mary's (Ac 12:12). And this was kept up during all the days of unleavened bread.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. But prayer was made. The church was apprized 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. The word here used, εκτενης, is found in but one other place in the New Testament. 1Pet 4:8: "Have fervent charity among yourselves." The word has rather the idea that their prayer was earnest and fervent, than that it was constant.

Of the church. By the church.

(1) "prayer" "instant and earnest prayer was made" 2Cor 1:11, Eph 6:18,19, 1Thes 5:17, Jas 5:16 (*) "without ceasing" "earnestly"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 12:1-5

James was one of the sons of Zebedee, whom Christ told that they should drink of the cup that he was to drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was to be baptized with, Mt 20:23. Now the words of Christ were made good in him; and if we suffer with Christ, we shall reign with him. Herod imprisoned Peter: the way of persecution, as of other sins, is downhill; when men are in it, they cannot easily stop…

Read the full comment on Acts 12:1-5 →

Acts 12:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
μὲνmenIndeedG3303
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ΠέτροςPetrosPeterG4074
ἐτηρεῖτοetēreitowas keptG5083
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
φυλακῇ·phulakēaprison;G5438
προσευχὴproseuchēprayerG4335
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἦνēnwasG1510
ἐκτενῶςektenōsferventlyG1619
γινομένηginomenēbeing madeG1096
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἐκκλησίαςekklēsiaschurchG1577
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
περὶpericoncerningG4012
αὐτοῦ.autouhim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 12:5

  • 1 Corinthians 12:26

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

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17

    Pray without ceasing.

  • James 5:16

    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 6:18-20

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:11

    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

    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.

  • Luke 18:1

    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

  • Acts 12:12

    And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

  • Isaiah 62:6-7

    I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

  • Hebrews 13:3

    Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
prayer was made without ceasing, or, instant and earnestprayer was made.
12; Isa 62:6,7; Mt 18:19; Lu 18:1; 1Co 12:26; 2Co 1:11
Eph 6:18-20; 1Th 5:17; Heb 13:3; Jas 5:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 12:4

    And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

  • Acts 12:5

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

  • Acts 12:6

    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.

Read all of Acts 12

Acts 12:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, Pedro era guardado en la cárcel; y la iglesia hacía sin cesar oración á Dios por él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pierre donc était gardé dans la prison; mais l’assemblée faisait d’instantes prières à Dieu pour lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Petrus nun wurde in dem Gefängnis verwahrt; aber von der Versammlung geschah ein anhaltendes Gebet für ihn zu Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et Petrus quidem servabatur in carcere. Oratio autem fiebat sine intermissione ab ecclesia ad Deum pro eo.