"But prayer was made without ceasing." Acts 12:5b

The books of Acts could well be titled "The Acts of Prayer." We of the twentieth century are shocked by prompt and decisive answers to prayer. For many in the church today, God is all locked into natural laws. They have little anticipation of super-natural intervention. In the book of Acts every answer to prayer propelled the church to trust God for greater things. Faced with each new crisis the church did not panic but remembered how only yesterday God had intervened in her behalf.

In the twelfth chapter of Acts a drama of three scenes unfolds. First, a powerful religious state pounds its angry fist against the infant church. This strong, unscrupulous power had already killed James with the sword and now Peter, shut up in prison, expects the same fate. The church does not know where the next blow will fall. It lies in the path of destruction and possible extinction. Future prospects are dark.

In the second scene a battered church prays ceaselessly. Weymouth's translation tells us, "But long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the church on his behalf." With Peter locked in prison and guarded by 16 soldiers, his only hope is a miracle. But what chance has prayer against prison walls? Man's extremity again becomes God's opportunity. While the church prays, an exchange of power takes place. Suddenly no longer is it pompous Herod, but the church on her knees holding the balance of power in national affairs.

The secret to the sudden turn of events? The sovereign hand of God responds to a church at prayer and intervenes in this remarkable sequence of events: First, angels come to the rescue of Peter. Lest we conclude that the participation of angels in world evangelization is no longer necessary, the books of Acts tells of increased angelic activity after Pentecost. The numerous references to angels in Acts alone reminds us that God's special delivery messengers are intimately linked with the Great Commission.

Next, the miraculous opening of locks and gates. In response to prayer an invisible hand reaches inside prison walls and opens doors. Prayer continues to open iron gates, iron curtains, and even bamboo curtains in our day. How else can we explain the unprecedented church growth in China from one to forty million people. Prayer is still that mysterious connecting link between the power of the Almighty and the hopeless human situation.

The climax of this drama is not so much in the removing of Herod by divine intervention, but the fact of God's Word growing and multiplying. Herod, the vain-glorious king, is eaten by worms, but the Word of God grows. What a striking contrast.

In the Epistle of James we are encouraged as individuals to pray. "The effectual fervent prayer of one righteous man availeth much." Today Acts 12 will be repeated when the whole church prays!

                     - Helmut Schultz, OMS OUTREACH