Bible Strands
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Luke narrates the interval between Peter's arrest by Herod (v. 4) and the angel's release (v. 6). The church is the subject; Peter is the object of their prayer.
The words — ἐτηρεῖτο (etēreito), imperfect passive of τηρέω, "was being kept/guarded," marks an ongoing state of confinement rather than a single act of imprisonment.
The thread — Communal prayer for a suffering member recurs in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ("pray without ceasing") and James 5:16 ("pray for each other"), with 1 Corinthians 12:26 supplying the corporate logic: if one part suffers, every part suffers.
Why it lands — The verse sets a passive man against an active community and asks the reader to identify with the community, not the prisoner. It is a call to sustained intercession, not a promise of deliverance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
- James 5:16 Therefore 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.
- Ephesians 6:18 Pray 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.
- 2 Corinthians 1:11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
- Matthew 18:19 Again, 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 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Acts 12:12 And 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 62:6 On 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,
- Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.