155. The Prayers Of The Church For Peter.

The Prayers Of The Church For Peter. The Prayers as recorded.—Acts 12:5; Acts 12:12. The Answer.—Acts 12:6-8.

Enter with us, reader, the same dark prison in which the apostles have been chained before. There, between two soldiers, oppressed in body by the heavy chains, lies Peter, watched by a vigilant sentinel. How is it possible an escape can be made? “God giveth his beloved sleep.” Nothing disturbs the mind of Peter, although the next day he may lay down his life for the Lord. There is a feeling of firm trust in Peter’s heart that all will be well, and perhaps a conviction drawn from the words of the Savior to him, that his death would not occur till he was more aged.

“Sleep’s calm wing is on his brow, And thoughts of peace his spirit lull.”

There is a united prayer from God’s children ascending to heaven for Peter, that these bars and bolts which bind him may be broken, and that body and soul may be free: the Church prays, and God hears and answers. There is, too, in the house of Mary, the sister of Barnabas, a prayer-meeting that night, and Peter in bonds, Peter in prison, is not forgotten at the throne of grace. The effectual, fervent prayer availeth much: we must not only pray for ourselves, but for others. God’s love enlarges man’s heart, and fills it full of sympathy, it makes the eye of the Christian watchful over the true interests of others; are any in bonds, we are exhorted to pray for them; are any sick, or in prison, we must still pray on; we must pray as individuals, pray as a church.

Prayer was made without ceasing for Peter. This is the strong language of scripture— the example is for us as Christians. Peter slept sweetly and well, for not even the strong light that filled that prison cell, nor the presence of the angel aroused him, till smitten and awakened by the words of the spirit, “Rise up quickly;” his fetters are all unloosed, and Peter knows it is the work of the Lord. And was not his deliverance an answer to sincere, earnest prayer?