EARNESTLY PRAYING TO GOD

Acts 12:1-25

Key Verse 12:5

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

Read verses 1-5. How had Herod been persecuting the church in Jerusalem? What was he trying to do to persecute it even more? How did the church respond? What does it mean to be “earnestly praying to God”? What happens when Jesus’ church prays “earnestly”?

Read verses 6-11. What was Peter’s situation like in prison? What does this tell us about Herod’s view of Peter? How did God rescue Peter? When and how did he realize what was happening? Why did this miracle even amaze Peter? What can we learn about God?

Read verses 12-19a. Where did Peter go? What were the believers doing? What happened when Peter arrived? Why did this miracle even surprise the believers in the house? What can we learn about the power of “earnest” prayer? How did this miracle affect Herod?

Read verses 19b-23. Where did Herod go? With whom did he have an audience? What did the people of Tyre and Sidon want? What happened to Herod? Why? Contrast Herod and Peter. How was Peter made victorious in the end?

Read verses 24-25. What do these verses tell us about the spread of the word of God and of the Christian church? What can we learn from this?