Prayer Involves Intercession (3)

Reading: Acts 12.1-13

In the early days of the church, persecution arose against the disciples because of the effectiveness of their witness which God confirmed through signs and wonders ^[1]. The persecution was due to the jealousy of the Jewish authorities and the threat to their power from the gospel message. Herod Agrippa 1 was the son of the Herod who had killed John the Baptist, he was also the grandson of Herod the Great, who had tried to murder the infant Jesus. Agrippa belonged to this cruel dynasty of rulers, and under the favour of the Roman emperor Claudius, had become governor of Judea and Samaria. In order to gain further popularity with the Jews, he killed the apostle James. Then, when he saw how this pleased them, he planned to execute the apostle Peter also. After he had imprisoned him, he made sure he was securely held by guarding him with sixteen soldiers. His plan was to kill Peter with the sword after the Passover. The believers assembled for prayer and intercession on his behalf. They prayed earnestly and without ceasing for Peter’s release from prison. This was a good example of a prayer meeting in the New Testament where the disciples gathered together with one purpose, to ask the Lord to preserve Peter’s life. Peter knew that the Lord Jesus had predicted the time and manner of his death, it would be when he was old and by some form of execution ^[2], and this was not the time to die. However, they felt the urgent need to intercede; they had a part to play in beseeching God to fulfil his promise. God answered their prayers but the story tells us that at first, they did not believe it when they heard he had been released and was waiting at the door. It is one thing to pray but we should also expect God to answer our prayers and not be astonished when He does. We must also thank Him for answering our prayers and to see His hand working in our lives.

References: [1] Hebrews 2v4 [2] John 21v18; 2 Peter 1v14