Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

Acts 12:5

Then Peter was indeed kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was made by the assembly to God on his behalf.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Criminals;   Herod;   Jerusalem;   Minister, Christian;   Persecution;   Peter;   Prayer;   Prison;   Prisoners;   Rulers;   Soldiers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Delayed Blessings;   Importunity;   Prayer;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflicted, Duty toward the;   Angels;   Prayer, Answers to;   Prayer, Intercessory;   Prayer, Public;   Prisons;   Protection;   Providence of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Peter;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Endurance;   Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Herod Agrippa I.;   Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Hebrews;   Herod;   Persecution in the Bible;   Prayer;   Prison, Prisoners;   Squad;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Herod;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Peter;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Herod;   Intercession;   Peter;   Prayer;   Prison;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;   New Testament;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Quaternion;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Intercession;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 26;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.
King James Version (1611)
Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church vnto God for him.
King James Version
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
English Standard Version
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
New American Standard Bible
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church.
New Century Version
So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
Amplified Bible
So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
Berean Standard Bible
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
Contemporary English Version
While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.
Complete Jewish Bible
So Kefa was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.
Darby Translation
Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was made of ye Church vnto God for him.
George Lamsa Translation
And while Simon Peter was kept in the prison, continual prayer was offered for him to God by the church.
Good News Translation
So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying earnestly to God for him.
Lexham English Bible
Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him.
American Standard Version
Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
Bible in Basic English
So Peter was kept in prison: but the church made strong prayer to God for him.
Hebrew Names Version
Kefa therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
International Standard Version
So Peter was being kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was being offered by the church.
Etheridge Translation
And while Shemun was kept in the house of the bound, constant prayer was offered by the church on his behalf unto Aloha.
Murdock Translation
And while Simon was in custody in the prison, continual prayer to God in his behalf, was offered to God by the church.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Peter was kept in pryson: But prayer was made without ceassyng of the Churche, vnto God for hym.
English Revised Version
Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
World English Bible
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So Peter was kept in the prison; but continual prayer was made to God by the church for him.
Weymouth's New Testament
So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Petre was kept in prisoun; but preier was maad of the chirche with out ceessing to God for hym.
Update Bible Version
Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church to God for him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him.
New English Translation
So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him.
New King James Version
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant [fn] prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
New Living Translation
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
New Life Bible
So Peter was held in prison. But the church kept praying to God for him.
New Revised Standard
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Peter, therefore, was kept in the prison; but, prayer, was, earnestly, being made by the assembly, unto God, concerning him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.
Revised Standard Version
So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then was Peter kepte in preson. But prayer was made with out ceasynge of the congregacion vnto God for him.
Young's Literal Translation
Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Peter was kepte in the preson But prayer was made without ceassinge of the congregacion, vnto God for him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
thus Peter was kept in prison, but the Church prayed to God, without ceasing, for him,
THE MESSAGE
All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But while Pete was locked up, everyone who rode for the Lord prayed for him constantly.

Contextual Overview

5 Then Peter was indeed kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was made by the assembly to God on his behalf. 6 But when Herod was about to bring him out, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, being bound with two chains, also guards were keeping the prison before the door. 7 And, behold! An angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the building. And striking Peter's side, he raised him up, saying, Rise up in haste! And the chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Throw around your garment and follow me. 9 And going out, he followed him, and did not know that this happening through the angel was real, but he thought he saw a vision. 10 And going through a first and a second guard, they came on the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself. And going out, they went on one street; and instantly the angel withdrew from him. 11 And having come, Peter said within himself, Now I know truly that the Lord sent out His angel and plucked me out of Herod's hand, and out of all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And considering, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, the one being surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together, and praying. 13 And Peter was knocking at the door of the porch, and a servant girl named Rhoda came near to listen. 14 And recognizing Peter's voice, from joy she did not open the porch, but running in she reported Peter was standing before the porch.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

prayer was made without ceasing: or, instant and earnest prayer was made, Acts 12:12, Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7, Matthew 18:19, Luke 18:1, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Hebrews 13:3, James 5:16

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:23 - God forbid Psalms 10:17 - cause Psalms 18:6 - distress Psalms 34:17 - cry Psalms 102:2 - in the day Psalms 127:2 - for so he Isaiah 65:24 - General Jeremiah 37:21 - Thus Daniel 3:20 - to bind Acts 5:18 - General Romans 1:9 - that Romans 12:12 - continuing 2 Corinthians 6:5 - imprisonments Colossians 1:9 - do

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you come to Gerar, as far as Gaza, as you go in towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even to Lasha.
Genesis 11:31
And Terah took his son Abram, and Lot, Haran's son, his grandson and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife. And he went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and lived there.
Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, and his brother's son, Lot, and all their substance that they had gained, and the persons they had gotten in Haran. And they went out to go into the land of Canaan. And they came into the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:8
And he moved from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and stretched his tent with Bethel toward the sea, and Ai on the east. And he built an altar there to Jehovah, and called on the name of Jehovah.
Genesis 12:9
And Abram pulled up stakes , going on and pulling up stakes toward the Negeb.
Genesis 14:14
And when Abram heard that his brother was captured, even then he led out his trained men, born of his household, three hundred and eighteen. And they pursued as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:21
And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons and take the goods for yourself.
Acts 7:4
Then going out from the land of the Chaldeans, he lived in Haran. And after his father died, God moved him from there into this land in which you now live.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Peter therefore was kept in prison,.... Till the feast of the passover was at an end:

but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him; this was not done by them as a body together, but either by them in several bands at different places, or by some of the principal of the church at some one certain place, and where they might frequently change companies, and keep on a continual incessant prayer for days together; and whereas it is very likely it might be at the beginning of the passover, when Peter was taken up, and it was now at the close of it, when he was delivered, the church might be engaged by companies alternately, a whole week together, in prayer, on this occasion.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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. The word used here ἐκτενής ektenēs is found in only one other place in the New Testament, 1 Peter 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 12:5. Prayer was made without ceasing — The Greek word εκτενης signifies both fervour 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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile