Continual Prayer Brings Results
July 2, 2019
Commentary
Perhaps you have heard it said, “Never underestimate the power of prayer.” In this exciting drama of Acts chapter 12 you can see the reality of this statement. In fact, it tells us much about prayer. In verse five we read that prayer was made:
1. To God – The Aim
2. In earnest – emphasizing the seriousness of prayer
3. By the church – the source
4. For Peter – the object
In this chapter a new wave of persecution, instigated by King Herod, broke out against the Church, and especially against its leaders. Herod Agrippa was a direct descendant of the Maccabees, through his mother Mariamne. He had been educated at Rome, but he deliberately cultivated the good graces of the Jewish people by meticulously keeping the Law and all Jewish observances. For these reasons he was popular with the people; and it was no doubt in order to achieve further popularity with the orthodox Jews that he decided to attack the Christian Church and its leaders.
Herod had James, the brother of John, killed (v. 2) which pleased the Jewish leaders immensely (v. 3). Hoping to boost his “approval ratings” even further, Herod had Peter arrested also (v. 3). This was all happening during the days of Unleavened Bread, right after Passover (v. 3), around the same time Jesus was Crucified a decade or so previous. Placed in a dungeon, Peter had 16 soldiers guarding him (4 squads of 4 each). Two soldiers were chained to him and two watched the doors. Evidently the authorities remembered the last time Peter had been arrested, and how he had mysteriously escaped from jail. They were not about to let that happen again.
In the meantime, the church was praying, and in answer to their prayers (v. 5) God supernaturally awakened Peter from a sound sleep (v. 6). He caused the chains to fall from his wrists, kept the guards asleep, and opened the iron gates (vv. 7-11). This certainly demonstrates how the power of God, in direct answer to prayer, is greater than that of any Herod.
Application
Lord, help me to think about some real answers to prayer I have had. Also help me to bring to my mind some urgent prayer requests.
Acts 12:3– 11 (NET)
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. 6 On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.”