And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (5) Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
The days of unleavened bread mean the feast of the Passover; and as a great number of Jews were of course come up at Jerusalem on this occasion, Herod thought this a fine opportunity to gratify that people with the spectacle of the murder of Peter; and therefore he intended, as soon as their religious ceremonies were over, the Apostle should be brought forth. And thus this time-serving king was filling up the measure of his iniquity, Genesis 15:16
I pray the Reader to be very particular in observing, what is said of the unceasing prayer of the Church, for the preservation of Peter, The words in the margin of the Bible are: instant and earnest prayer was made without ceasing. An holy importunity with the Lord, such as would take no denial. Such as Jacob himself the father of all the praying seed of Israel used, when it is said, that he wept and made supplication unto him, Hosea 12:4. Weeping, and then praying; and then at it again: wrestling again, with tears and prayers; and as one that was determined never to give over, until he obtained as at length he did obtain the object he desired. See the whole history, Genesis 32:24 etc. And it is worthy remark, the light in which the Lord regards such holy pleaders. He calls them Recorders; for so the word Mazkir means: Isaiah 62:6-7. I beg the Reader to turn to the passage. He will find in the margin of his Bible, that to the Lord's watchmen, whom he hath commanded never to hold their peace, day nor night, the Lord saith; Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, keep not silence; and give him no silence, until he hath established, and made Jerusalem a praise in the earth. And then follows the Lord's Oath. - I entreat the Reader to ponder this sweet Scripture well. And I entreat him to seek instruction from the Lord the Spirit, to a right apprehension of it. And when he hath thus done, I would ask him the question, (I do not decide), whether there is not in the whole God the Father's oath and promise: Hebrews 6:17-18. God the Son's finished salvation and intercession: (for both are implied in all real prayer): 1 John 2:1-2, and God the Spirit's grace and supplication, as a spirit of both, poured out to lead the praying seed of Jacob to prayer, and help them in it; all included in this sweet portion, Zechariah 12:10; Romans 8:26
We that live in the present cold, prayerless generation, (and as it is to be feared, too often satisfy ourselves with heartless forms), by reason of such prison frames as we pray in, can hardly figure to ourselves an idea of the holy importunity of those holy men of old. But were the Lord to bring on the Church, as in those days, an awful persecution like this of Herod, the faithful in Christ, would soon learn, in what soul-feeling prayer consisted.