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 as well. (Now these were the days of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after the Passover to bring him before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church. 6On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.

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
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• was keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
• in the prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
• but prayerπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
• for him was beingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• intenselyἐκτενῶςektenōs · ferventlyG1619
• by the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for Acts 12:5

• Acts 12:12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
• Isaiah 62:6On your walls, Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves;
• Matthew 18:19“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
• Luke 18:1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,
• 1 Corinthians 12:26And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:11if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.
• Ephesians 6:18With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17pray without ceasing,
• Hebrews 13:3Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
• James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.

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