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I. THE CHURCH SUFFERING. The name of Herod is to the Christian Church almost all that Ahab is to the Jewish, and Peter comes before us in these earlier chapters of the Acts as another Elijah — the prophet of fire. Herod stretches out his hand to vex certain of the Church, which must have been driven to its wits' end. Stephen had already been stoned, and almost all the leading men had been scattered. And now the Apostle James is slain. The trembling Church clings about Peter. And now Peter is carried off to prison; and Herod is going to put him to death as soon as the Passover is over. How the hearts of the Christians must have sunk down within them, sick with helplessness! Oh these dreadful times, when it seems so hopeless, so useless to do anything more; the conflict is so unequal!

II. THE CHURCH PRAYING. Then comes a blessed "but." "But prayer was made without ceasing." Though every other door be shut, this one is ever open. We have seen in our day what has been called an attempt to go back to primitive custom in the Church. We can do nothing better, if only we go back far enough. I find no controversy about vestments, no going to law about attitudes, no mystery of the mass, but I find prayer constant, everywhere. The primitive Church was born in a prayer meeting, and in the prayer meeting she renewed her strength. The prayer meeting is the thermometer of the Church — it tests what degree of warmth there is. The prayer meeting is the barometer of the Church, and points us to showers of blessings or to seasons of drought. The Church's warming apparatus is in the prayer meeting room. The light that is in the Church comes in that way. A praying Church is a mighty, prosperous, resistless Church. He helps the Church most who sets himself to make the prayer meeting most largely a success. Let us turn to this company. "I don't see any hope whatever," says one; "if we had only somebody of influence to plead with Herod, but we all are so poor. And then there are all these rulers and Pharisees urging him on." Then says some simple soul timidly, "I think we had better pray about it." But nobody noticed it. Then another sighs: "Herod has declared his purpose, and the Jews will take care to keep him up to it." "No hope," says another bitterly; "Peter is inside that iron gate and those stone walls, chained to soldiers and watched by sentries! Poor Peter! there is not a chance for him." "I think we had better pray," says the simple soul again, more urgently. "Really, brother, do be practical! Whatever can prayer do in a case like this?" ask they all impatiently. "What can it not do?" says the simple soul. "Ah, but you see God works according to law," says another very solemnly. That silences them all. The simple soul doesn't know what law means; most likely none of them do. They only think of it as something very dreadful indeed that shut Heaven's door and left Peter hopelessly in prison. And so Peter might have perished and the Church have died out — all because God works by laws! But now there is a familiar knock, that told of an earnest and resolute man. "Ah, here is Brother Faith," says the simple soul, looking up brightly. "Well," says Faith, "what are you going to do?" "Have you got anything to propose?" at last one asks doubtfully. "Yes," Faith answers, "I happen to know One who has great influence with Herod, and could get him to change his mind about this matter. And besides that, He has the key of that iron door, and He can open it. And as for the soldiers, they are bound to do His bidding. I think we had better speak to Him." "Who can do that but Caesar?" they ask in a tone of disappointment. "And however are we to get at Caesar? Besides, there is no time to communicate with him." "No," says Faith, "I mean One here in Jerusalem, our Heavenly Father." "But God works according to law." "True," says Faith, "and isn't this a mighty, deep, abiding law, that 'like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him'? And is not this a law, that 'if we know how to give good gifts unto our children, our Father shall much more know how to give good gifts to them that ask Him'? I believe in law," says Faith, "but I believe at the back of all law, its source and strength, is the heart of our Father God. He can help us, and He will. Let us pray." And without more ado Faith knelt down, and one by one all followed and they began to pray. Oh Faith! verily thou hast logic and philosophy and common sense and the promises and everything on thy side — for thou hast God. As they pray on they get to the very heart of God. Was not this poor trembling Church the very Bride of God's dear Son, for whom He had lain down His life? What then? If God had given His Son for their sakes, could He withhold His help? Oh Herod! you cannot succeed against this. This little company has got hold of Omnipotence.

III. LEAVING THE COMPANY LET US SEE HOW IT FARES WITH PETER. Poor Peter! the sentence has gone out that tomorrow he must die, amidst every condition that should afford his enemies a gloating triumph. Little wonder if we find him cast down, beset with grief and fear. But look, here he lies, asleep. Well, what else should he be doing? Of old he slept because the flesh was weak; now he sleeps because his faith is strong. Ah, it is the very climax of faith when it has learnt to sleep. Many a man can fight the good fight of faith, who cannot sleep the good deep of faith. Now suddenly the dungeon is illuminated as with the glory of the Lord. Then Peter saw the angel, he felt the fetters loosened, and forth he went. Then the angel was gone, and Peter stood under the starry heavens — free. At first his thoughts went up to God to thank Him for His great deliverance. Then his thoughts went away to the little company that had met in prayer for him. He found the door shut! The prison gate fell back before him; but here were they, praying that Peter might be fetched out of prison, and they had forgotten to leave their own front door on the latch for him. The only place that Peter found impassable was the house of his friends! Have we not heard of the little maiden who when the church met to pray for rain took her big umbrella with her; and when the congregation came out to find their prayers answered, they almost forgot to be thankful in their concern about their dresses and bonnets, whilst she went safely sheltered on her way? When you begin to pray, let faith set the door of expectation open. So is it that many go on praying for forgiveness, and they forget to go to the door to see if the Saviour is there. Many are praying for the peace and joy of the indwelling Christ, and lo! He Himself is standing without knocking and waiting if they would but open unto Him and let Him come in. Poor Peter! it seemed a cold reception for him, standing there and knocking thus. Eventually Rhoda, hearing someone, creeps timidly to listen. They were times of peril, and all kinds of dreadful things might happen; and fearfully she asked who it was. It was Peter. And in very joy, without staying to open the door, she ran in and carried the good tidings — "Peter is come." "Nonsense," said one, "you are mad." Ah, they were a little like us of today, it seems. "But I am sure it is he: I heard his voice," persisted the damsel. Then said one and another rather frightened — "It is his ghost." It is wonderful what people will believe in sooner than believe in answers to prayer. Then the company crept timidly to the door. Yes, there was Peter himself, and he told them how the Lord had sent an angel and delivered him. Then they saw why this mystery of Peter's imprisonment had been permitted — that they might prove the mighty power of prayer. And Peter went forth beyond the reach of Herod. But a little time after, Herod was smitten by the angel of the Lord. Do let us believe in God, and let there be no limit to our faith, since there is no limit to the power and goodness of our God. We have access to the same God; let us make much use of it. If Herod be dead, his successors are still very much alive. There are many rulers of public opinion who do stretch out their hands to vex the Church. Others are there whose lust hates that which condemns their indulgence. Our power to triumph over our foes is in our power to pray. What hosts are there who lie away from the reach of the gospel! How can we get at them? Amongst us there are old besetting sins, that are riveted upon wrist and ankle, binding men and women in a miserable bondage, making them useless to the Church — avarice, ill-temper, worldliness, lukewarmness, prejudice, pride. Their gold is under lock and key, and it wants a strong angel of the Lord to loosen it. They are shut up in an inner dungeon of indifference or laziness, bound by the opinion of those about them, as Peter was by the chains of the soldiers. What can we etc.? Let but prayer be made without ceasing of the Church unto God; and rulers shall be powerless for mischief, and prison doors shall be opened, and again it shall be recorded, "The word of God grew and multiplied."

(Mark Guy Pearse.)

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

WEB: Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.