SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:5
¶ Así que, Pedro era guardado en la crcel; y la Iglesia hacía sin cesar oracin a Dios por l.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 12:5
Verse 5. Prayer was made without ceasing] The Greek word ektenhv signifies both fervour and earnestness, as well as perseverance. These prayers of the Church produced that miraculous interference mentioned below, and without which Peter could not have thus escaped from the hands of this ruthless king.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison , etc.] Till the feast of the passover was at an end: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him ; this was not done by them as a body together, but either by them in several bands at different places, or by some of the principal of the church at some one certain place, and where they might frequently change companies, and keep on a continual incessant prayer for days together; and whereas it is very likely it might be at the beginning of the passover, when Peter was taken up, and it was now at the close of it, when he was delivered, the church might be engaged by companies alternately, a whole week together, in prayer, on this occasion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - James was one of the sons of Zebedee, whom Christ told that they shoul drink of the cup that he was to drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was to be baptized with, Mt 20:23. Now the words of Christ were made good in him; and if we suffer with Christ, we shal reign with him. Herod imprisoned Peter: the way of persecution, as of other sins, is downhill; when men are in it, they cannot easily stop Those make themselves an easy prey to Satan, who make it their busines to please men. Thus James finished his course. But Peter, being designed for further services, was safe; though he seemed now marke out for a speedy sacrifice. We that live in a cold, prayerles generation, can hardly form an idea of the earnestness of these holy men of old. But if the Lord should bring on the church an awfu persecution like this of Herod, the faithful in Christ would learn what soul-felt prayer is.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM μεν 3303 PRT ουν 3767 CONJ πετρος 4074 N-NSM ετηρειτο 5083 5712 V-IPI-3S εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF φυλακη 5438 N-DSF προσευχη 4335 N-NSF δε 1161 CONJ ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S εκτενης 1618 A-NSF γινομενη 1096 5740 V-PNP-NSF υπο 5259 PREP της 3588 T-GSF εκκλησιας 1577 N-GSF προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM θεον 2316 N-ASM υπερ 5228 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Without ceasing (ektenhv). Wrong. The word means earnest. See on fervently, 1 Pet. i. 22; and compare instantly, Acts xxvi. 7; more earnestly, Luke xxii. 44; fervent, 1 Pet. iv. 8. The idea of continuance is, however, expressed here by the finite verb with the participle. Very literally, prayer was arising earnest.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:5 {Therefore} (men oun). Because of the preceding situation. {Was kept} (etereito). Imperfect passive, continuously guarded, waiting for the feast to be over. {But prayer was made earnestly} (proseuce de en ektenws ginomene). Probably de here is not adversative (but), merely parallel (and) as Page argues. It was a crisis for the Jerusalem church. James had been slain and Peter was to be the next victim. Hence "earnestly" (late adverb from ektenes, strained, from ekteinw, to stretch. In the N.T. only here, #Lu 22:44; 1Pe 1:22) prayer was {going up} (ginomene, present middle participle, periphrastic imperfect with n). It looked like a desperate case for Peter. Hence the disciples prayed the more earnestly.
