Acts 12:5

Acts 12:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
• New International Version (NIV)So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Context of Acts 12:5

3And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. 6On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Acts 12:5 word by word

Ὁ μὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ· προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν ἐκτενῶς γινομένη ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν θεὸν περὶ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

• Soοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• was keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
• butδέde · thenG1161
• ·ὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ferventlyἐκτενῶςektenōs · ferventlyG1619
• prayingπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
• prayingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Acts 12:5

• Acts 12:12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
• Isaiah 62:6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves,
• Matthew 18:19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
• Luke 18:1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
• 1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
• Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
• Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
• James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Commentaries on Acts 12:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Prayer was made without ceasing - The Greek word 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5But 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5the church was fervently praying: God answers the earnest prayers of his people (12:6–17; see Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8; compare Matthew 7:7–11; John 15:7; Philippians 4:6–7; James 5:16; 1 John 3:22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 12:5

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Criminals
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prison
• Prisoners
• Rulers
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• God
• Peter
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer
• Raise
• Vex

Commentaries on Acts 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings