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

3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. 6When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• was keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
• butδέde · thenG1161
• prayerπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• without ceasingἐκτενήςektenēs · ferventG1618
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Acts 12:5

• Acts 12:12As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.
• Isaiah 62:6Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen on your walls; they will never be silent, day or night. There is no rest for you, who remind the Lord.
• Matthew 18:19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
• Luke 18:1Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.
• 1 Corinthians 12:26So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:11while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.
• Ephesians 6:18Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17pray constantly,
• Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.
• James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

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