PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

Raymond Elliott

 INTRODUCTION:  Usually we examine the book of Acts regarding such subjects as the beginning of the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, the examples of conversions, the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul, etc.; however, in this lesson we will be dealing with another important subject and that is of prayer in the lives of those early Christians.

 I.                     IN THE SELECTING/APPOINTING OF MEN FOR SPECIAL OFFICES/WORKS.

A.      Selecting of an additional apostle (Matthias) to take the place of Judas Iscariot.

1.      Acts 1:24 – “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen.”

B.     Appointing of the seven servants to distribute necessities to neglected widows.

1.      Acts 6:6 – “Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.”

C.     When the Holy Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul to go on a missionary journey.

1.      Acts 13:3 – “Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

D.     The ordaining of elders in every congregation.

1.      Acts 14:23 – “And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.”

II.                  THE EARLY CHURCH WAS A PRAYING PEOPLE.

A.      Continued steadfastly in prayer.

1.      Acts 2:42 – “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

B.     In times of adversity and persecution.

1.      Acts 4:24-31 – “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

C.     A special prayer meeting – for Peter.

1.      Acts 12:5 – “Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.”

2.      Acts 12:12 – “And when he had considered (the thing), he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying.”

III.                SEEKERS OF TRUTH PRAYED.

A.      Saul.

1.      Acts 9:9-11 – “And the Lord (said) unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth.”

B.     Cornelius.

1.      Acts 10:2 – “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.”

2.      Verse 4 – “And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God.”

3.      Verse 30 – “And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel.”

4.      Verse 31 – “And saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.”

C.     Man in Macedonia.

1.      Acts 16:9 – “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.”

D.  Lydia.

2.      Acts 16:13 – “And on the Sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.”

IV.                WHEN A CHILD OF GOD SINS.

A.      Acts 8:22, 24 – “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.”  “And Simon answered and said, pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

V.                  THE APOSTLES WERE MEN OF PRAYER.

A.      Following the ascension of Christ they met in the upper room with some women, Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers, to pray.

1.      Acts 1:14 – “These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

B.     Peter and John went to the temple at the hour of prayer.

1.      Acts 3:1 – “Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the night hour.”

C.     They were continually in prayer.

1.      Acts 6:4 – “But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.”

D.     Peter and John praying for the Samaritans.

1.      Acts 8:15 – “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.”

E.     Peter, when he raised Tabitha (Dorcas).

1.      Acts 9:40 – “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise.  And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”

F.      Peter, at the 6^th hour, was on the housetop praying.

1.      Acts 10:9 – “Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.”

G.    Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi.

1.      Acts 16:25 – “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

H.     Paul praying with the Ephesian elders at Miletus.

1.      Acts 20:36 – “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.”

I.        Just outside the city of Tyre, Luke said, “We knelt down on the shore and prayed.”

1.      Acts 21:5 – “And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell.”

J.      Paul praying in the temple at Jerusalem.

1.      Acts 22:17 – “And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance.”

K.     Paul gave thanks for food in the presence of the 276 persons aboard the ship.

1.      Acts 27:35 – “And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.”

L.      Paul at Malta prayed for the father of Publius and then healed him.

1.      Acts 28:8 – “And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.”

CONCLUSION:   In our effort to restore New Testament Christianity, we must endeavor to include prayer in our private lives, the making of important decisions, especially regarding the work of the church and in our public worship assemblies.