D. Scott Meadows

The astonishing deliverance of Peter from Herod’s prison in Acts 12 is one of the great tales of early church history. Not only is it engaging as a human interest story, but it puts on display both man’s sin and God’s grace in an unforgettable way. One aspect of this true account is even humorous.

Let us focus on a few spiritual lessons it suggests with respect to prayer. These are truths known to God’s people in all times and places, yet rehearsing them may stir us to greater faithfulness.

Desperate situations call for sustained church prayer

This was a life and death situation for Peter. Luke drives that home by telling us that Herod the king “killed James the brother of John [and the beloved spiritual brother of Peter] with the sword” (v. 2). Peter’s arrest very possibly could have led to his execution. “The people of the Jews” (vv. 4, 11) might have called for his death like they did in the case of Jesus.

So “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (v. 5). This was apparently the spontaneous response, and certainly a spiritual one, of Peter’s loving brethren once they were made aware of his peril and their human weakness under a powerful, persecuting government. They petitioned God, the King of kings, the Lord over king Herod. They petitioned diligently, with care and persistent effort. They prayed as a church, as an assembly gathered together for this specific purpose (v. 12). They prayed affectionately, moved by their love for Peter and their zeal for the spread of the gospel he preached.

Many legitimate concerns ought to occupy our private prayers without mention to anyone else. Others are also proper for family prayers in our homes and for sharing with a few of our close Christian friends. Now and then, things arise which are so important and urgent that they justify even prolonged emergency church prayer meetings like this one for Peter. Have we forgotten this lesson?

We can rightly pray for things not explicitly promised by God

The text only says they prayed “for him” (v. 5). Luke evidently counted it too obvious to mention that they prayed for Peter’s safety and release from prison, but without a doubt, they did. Human nature, the particular situation, and the providential outcome all powerfully suggest this.

How could prayer for Peter’s release be justified if we ought to limit our prayers for things God has promised, things for which we can therefore trust Him, and not just anything we might desire, as Scripture teaches (Jas 4.3; 1 Jn 5.14, 15)? After all, Jesus had taught them that persecution and death would come to them for their gospel testimony in the world (Matt 24.9). Providence had already issued in Stephen’s (Acts 7) and James’ martyrdom. It was known in advance that Peter was eventually going to suffer the same (Jn 21.18). Is it proper to pray for things that might be contrary to God’s eternal decree?

The answer is yes, if they are noble things, and as long as we ask in submission to God and with hope in His mercy. Grappling with this question, Calvin wrote, “where no certain promise shows itself, we must ask of God conditionally” (Institutes III, xx, 15). As we ask, we must be thinking, “if Thou be willing,” and, “nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done,” as Jesus did (Luke 22.42). In this instance, God was pleased to answer the church’s earnest prayers even before they knew the outcome.

God is sometimes granting our requests even before we realize it

In this written account, Luke’s readers see God giving the church what they were asking prior to their knowing He had heard them favorably. In their ignorance, they continued praying for Peter’s release even when the prison cell was only a memory.

Any church can testify of countless similar instances. We pray for brethren near and far, entrusting them to the Lord’s care, and sometimes we discover He answered before we asked (Isa 65.24). God’s mercies are always right on time according to His wisdom. We should never doubt that He is always working out His perfect plan and that our heartfelt prayers are included in it, whether He answers as we hope or not. Furthermore, we should realize that sometimes He has granted our requests without sending immediate word to us about it. Nevertheless, it is a righteous thing to persist in prayer for legitimate needs until the good news breaks, as these early saints did. Do not yield to pessimism and discouragement!

Even a little faith receives astounding blessings

Peter’s Christian friends had enough faith in God and the possibility of his release to offer up their earnest pleas for this, but they were not actually expecting such a dramatic answer so soon. Luke’s specific characterization (vv. 13–16) of their happy reunion with Peter is bound to induce our holy amusement, if not laughter. Rhoda was so happy she left Peter locked out for the moment while she told the many praying inside that he was out there. They not only expressed their skepticism but insisted that Rhoda had lost her mind. She “constantly affirmed that it was so,” when, instead of arguing, she might have just turned around, opened the door, and showed them. Finally, the skeptics opened the door— ostensibly to prove her wrong—and there stood Peter! They were astonished! That is indeed a funny, joyful story for the ages.

Aren’t we like them? If you joined others praying for rain, would you bring an umbrella? Our faith is often so small, yet our gracious Lord hears us. Jesus has taught us, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matt 17.20). Answered prayer depends not on the greatness our faith but on the greatness of our Savior. So let us depend not at all on ourselves but on Him alone. Let our confidence in His wisdom, power, faithfulness, mercy, and love carry us into His august presence, with our worthy petitions and hope-filled patience, while He executes His God-glorifying plan to bless His chosen people! Ω