Praise Prayer in Acts 4
Introduction: Peter and John were preaching Jesus Christ in the temple courts, after the power of God through Peter had healed a man lame from birth. They were apprehended by officers of the high priest and held overnight. The officials questioned them and ordered them not to preach in the name of Jesus any more, but they said they had to obey God rather than men. Since the miraculous healing of the lame man could not be denied, the officials did not take more severe action, but gave another strong warning not to preach in the name of Jesus, and then they released Peter and John. When Peter and John gathered with their own friends and related the incident, a spontaneous prayer ensued. The passage that contains that prayer is the subject of this study.
NOTE: All Bible passages are from the 1769 King James Version.
A — Peter and John were released
Acts 4 “23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:”
Comments: The text says they reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them, rather than specifically stating that they reported all that had happened. This phraseology may not exclude the possibility that the detail was given of Peter and John's actions and words. The emphasis though in the passage, seems to be on requesting that God provide boldness against the actions and words of the Jewish leaders, as they continually rejected Jesus as the Christ, and made threats in an attempt to stop the spread of the gospel. And when the friends of Peter and John heard the report, they raised their voices to God with one accord.
The Online Bible Greek lexicon provided some interesting information about the compound Greek word “homothumadon”: “AV translated as ‘with one accord’ 11 entries, ‘with one mind’ 1 entry. A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to ‘rush along’ and ‘in unison.’ The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ's church.”
There are sufficient Biblical references to model the opening words of the prayer, and those references would have been familiar to the Jews and proselytes to Judaism, who were the base composition of the Jerusalem church at this time. This scriptural background would facilitate bringing them to be of one mind as they began to pray. The theme of God as creator of all begins in the very opening of Genesis.
B — Psalms 2 as it applies to Jesus
Acts 4 “25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”
Comments: The phrase “who by the mouth of thy servant David” tells us that it was God speaking through David, and the portion of Psalm 2 that is referenced is applied directly to the rejection and mistreatment of Jesus who is the Christ (the anointed, the Messiah). The crucifixion of Jesus was actually “to do whatsoever thy {God's} hand and thy {God's} counsel determined before to be done” because God's plans cannot be thwarted. God in heaven will simply laugh at those who think they are in control.
C — A prayer made in confidence
Acts 4 “29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Comments: This portion of the prayer is actually a request that the Lord allow the whole company to continue to do the very thing that Peter and John had already done to bring them to the point of this prayer. They recognize that their earlier boldness was not of themselves, any more than future boldness for the Lord would be of themselves. This also provides a strong statement that the healings and other miraculous signs were performed by the power of God, in the name of Jesus, for the purpose of causing His word to go forth. The text indicates an immediate response to that prayer as the place where they were was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, enabling them to preach the Word with BOLDNESS!
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I praise you as the Creator of heaven and earth, and all that is therein. As I have reviewed the firmness of this principal preserved from the opening of Genesis up to our present time, I am well pleased to be among those over the centuries who have accepted your word regarding six days for your work of creation. I believe that by you Lord, all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by the Lord, and for the Lord. Keep this central in my thoughts as I praise you for many other incomparable aspects of your holy attributes. Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit that will enable me to be your witness, just as it was the enabling power for all your followers as recorded in the New Testament scriptures. May I have boldness and confidence as I fully trust in your finished work in my behalf, through your death, burial, and resurrection. May the work of your Spirit active within me encourage others, as I have been encouraged by the faith and actions of disciples in the early church. Amen.
Published 14 July 2006; revisions 31 January 2017