"Acts 11:19-12:19a
Pray with passion
It was the equivalent of London, Paris or New York. Antioch was a wealthy, cosmopolitan capital of the East, renowned for its buildings and culture. It was also a city with a bad reputation – full of prostitutes, nightclubs and drinking dens. It was renowned for its lax moral standards.
This city was transformed, and it became a distinguished Christian city and the springboard for Christian mission to the entire Gentile world. The Lord’s hand was with them and ‘a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord’ (v.21).
God used Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’. Encouragement is not flattery or empty praise; it is like verbal sunshine. It costs nothing and warms other people’s hearts and inspires them with hope and confidence in their faith. We need those around us who are like Barnabas. And we can all be like Barnabas to other people.
Barnabas ‘encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord’ (vv.23–24).
It was not a hit and run visit: ‘For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch’ (v.26).
There was a release of finance. Each gave ‘according to his ability ... to provide help’ for those in need (v.29). This is an important principle of the Christian community – those who can afford help to pay for those who can’t.
This was a period of great blessing and massive church growth. However, they also faced a rising tide of opposition.
The Judean King Herod Agrippa I (c.10BC – 44AD) had a cruel streak, which he inherited from his grandfather, Herod the Great (c.74BC–4AD), and his uncle Herod Antipas (21BC–39AD) who had executed John the Baptist and tried Jesus. He took to persecuting Christians. He was an unscrupulous politician who wanted to gain popularity with the people (12:1–3). He had James executed. Peter was in prison and Herod planned a public lynching (v.4, MSG).
Peter was guarded by four squads of four soldiers each (v.4). He had double the usual guard and chains on both hands (v.6). Peter himself ‘slept like a baby’ (v.6, MSG). It has been said that there is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience!
The church faced a seemingly impossible situation. The very existence of the early church seemed to be at stake. What did they do? What are we to do in situations that are seemingly impossible? We see the answer in verse 5: ‘The church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter]’.
Pray together
‘The church’ (v.5) joined together in prayer. ‘Many people had gathered and were praying’ (v.12). The New Testament teaches a lot about private prayer, but there is even more about praying together.
Pray earnestly
There are two reasons why they might not have prayed at all. First, James had been executed (v.2). God had not answered their prayers for James. We don’t know why, but it did not stop them praying.
Second, Peter’s situation seemed impossible. Their choice was either to give up praying or to pray passionately. The Greek word ekten_s (translated here as ‘earnestly’) was used to describe a horse made to go at full gallop. It denotes the taut muscle of strenuous and sustained effort as of an athlete.
The imperfect tense suggests that they prayed not as a one-off, but for a considerable length of time. They persevered.
Pray to God
When we pray, we are not just talking to ourselves, or praying eloquent prayers to impress those who hear us. Prayer to God means having an audience with God. It means actually coming into the presence of God – asking and receiving.
Pray for others
They prayed for Peter (v.5). There are many types of prayer: worship, praise, thanksgiving, petition, and so on – but here we read of intercessory prayer. They prayed for him because they loved him. Intercessory prayer is an act of love.
This was an extraordinary prayer meeting, and the results are evident (vv.6–15). In answer to their prayers God acted supernaturally. Peter was freed the night before his trial. God’s answer involved visions, angels and chains falling off (vv.6–9). Obstacles were removed. The guards did not bar the prisoners’ escape, and the iron gate to the city opened in front of them (v.10).
Peter then turned up at the prayer meeting, but his release was so extraordinary that the girl who answered the door forgot to let him in, and no one else believed it was actually him (vv.12–15)!
John Stott writes of verse 15, ‘It is ironic that the group who were praying fervently and persistently for Peter’s deliverance should regard as mad the person who informed them that that their prayers had been answered.’
The word of God continued to increase and spread (v.24). As John Stott writes, ‘The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free and the word of God triumphing.’
Lord, help us to pray like the early church who prayed together, praying to you and praying passionately for others. May your hand be with us and may we too see a great number of people believing and turning to the Lord."
1. Thank You Lord for always showing that nothing is impossible with You!
2. One more exam down. Hallelujah! =)
3. Thank You for having friends everywhere! Thank You that I have met their families.
