A Church Praying without Ceasing

The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 43 • September 19, 2025

Sep 19, 2025

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Acts 12:5, KJV

INTRO

With a foundation having been laid of a church with Christ in the midst, and extending from the principle that prayers will be answered from heaven in such gatherings,1 let us now consider the topic of a church that is praying without ceasing.

First, let us consider a couple of points from scripture. Prayers “asked amiss” for one’s own pleasure, are not answered.2 Next, knowing that God desires all to repent,3 we are exhorted to pray for men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.4

Now, in Acts 12, we see God act in a mighty way through prayers that were made without ceasing by a church body that was of one accord.

LITERAL

In very literal terms, we see Peter (of whom was planned to be executed the next day) delivered from prison during the night and set free to continue the work of the gospel. We see that the very literal prayers, made “without ceasing” by his brothers and sisters were answered.

TYPE

I see in the scriptures describing this event, a picture and spiritual type of a person who is locked away in bondage in a cell of darkness, being taken captive as a prisoner of Satan’s kingdom.5

THE IMPOSSIBLE BONDAGE

As Herod kept Peter in bondage, desiring to put him to physical death,6 so also does Satan hold his captives in a spiritual bondage, desiring to bring them to an eventual eternal death.

Peter was secured behind two sets of guarded and locked doors in the prison. Additionally, he was chained directly to a soldier on either side of him.7 No doubt, this was an impossible situation. Short of miraculous intervention, Peter had no chance of escape as he wait for his death sentence.

As an example of an extreme case not being unreachable by Christ, the demon possessed man of Gadarenes comes to mind.8 This man was subdued with physical restraints, which he then broke free from. However, his spiritual bondage, in the prison of darkness, was guarded by a legion of unclean spirits. These spirits left him utterly defeated and without hope, until the power of Christ set him free.9

From this we can draw encouragement that no person, whom Jesus places in our lives, should be considered too far gone for us to pray for their deliverance.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

In answer to the church’s prayers, an angel was sent to Peter. The Bible describes the scene as having a “light shin[ing] in the prison.”10

To all who have been blinded into darkness by the “god of this world,”11 it is the only true God,12 Jehovah,13 who shines a light into sin darkened hearts “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”14

As the angel smote Peter and caused his chains to fall off, so the unceasing prayers of the church will bring forth rays of light from heaven, and perhaps circumstances that may jolt the one being prayed for out of their spiritual slumber, causing them to see their desperate state and need for Christ.

ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Before leaving the prison, Peter was told to gird himself with his garment.15 In type this would be a picture of one taking on the righteous robes of Christ, the robe of salvation.16 For without this garment, no man leaves the prison of spiritual darkness.

GATES OF HELL WON’T PREVAIL

At the final scene of the prison, we see that after passing through two locked doors, the iron gate into the city opened on its own.17

Thus, when prayers are answered and the spiritual captive is set free, we see that indeed the gates of hell prevail not against the church which has been built upon the rock of Christ as the literal Son of the living God.18

COMING TO ONESELF

Peter is described as having “come to himself”19 after the angel had departed from him. We see a similar phrase in Luke 15:17 at the moment when the prodigal son determines to leave the pigsty and to return to his father with a repentant heart.

What a joyous day it is when one, who has previously been locked away in sin and darkness, repents, comes to themselves, and surrenders to Christ.

TESTIMONY

Once released, Peter went to a place where believers were gathered and shared his testimony of how the Lord had delivered him from prison.20 At first sight of him, and given the impossibility of the situation, they were astonished.21 This testimony resulted in great glory to God, as well as great strengthening and encouragement within the church as news of Peter’s deliverance spread.

Additionally, amongst the soldiers, it is recorded as having caused “no small stir.”22 So also, when one such captive of Satan - through the unceasing prayers of the church - is made free by the miraculous saving power of God, the result will no doubt be “no small stir” in the enemy camp, great glory to God, and much encouragement to the church.

PRAYER

May God help us to come together in earnest and unceasing prayers for those that are held in a spiritual bondage of sin and darkness. May He give us a united burden and endurance to continue in our prayers together until testimonies of freedom and deliverance come.