Acts 12:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →While Peter lies under guard, the church gives itself to earnest, unbroken prayer to God for him.
What Does Acts 12:5 Mean?
Luke sets the two powers of the chapter face to face in a single sentence: 'Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer.' The believers had no weapons, no friends at court, no legal recourse against a king. What they had was God, and they went to him without ceasing — gathered by night in homes like Mary's (verse 12).
The word for 'without ceasing' pictures something stretched taut — prayer at full extension, the same root Luke uses of Jesus praying 'more earnestly' in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). This verse is the hinge of the whole chapter: every wonder that follows happens while ordinary believers are on their knees. The church's part was prayer; God's part was everything else.
Acts 12:5 in the Original Language
ektenes (ἐκτενής), 'without ceasing' -- stretched out at full tension; earnest and fervent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 12:5
What does Acts 12:5 mean?
While Peter lies under guard, the church gives itself to earnest, unbroken prayer to God for him.