In our passage, we see the church being persecuted. But all of this is part of how Jesus works out his plan in this world.

The lure of materialism will not prevail against Jesus' plans. Our desires for comfort and pleasure will not stop him. The woke agenda, government legislation, Hollywood’s anti-Christian rhetoric, emotional and physical persecution. There are lots of forces opposed to Christ, but they will not prevail. Assailed from without and within, it can be easy to despair, to think that we are part of a losing cause. A small church, an insignificant voice in society, we do not see much glory now. Still, Christ continues to rule. He continues to work in this world, pulling down evil rulers and lifting up new ones in their place. And he calls on us to trust him as he accomplishes his plans. To walk by faith and not by sight. To be confident that Christ is ruling from above. Christ who knows our frailties. Christ who is infinitely wise. Christ who is certain to accomplish his plans.

Practically, if we are walking by faith and not by sight, if we believe that Jesus Christ is our King and that he is ruling as we speak, then our response must be to pray.

That seems to be the application made in the early church. With Peter in prison, his death is all but certain. They are not expecting him to get out alive when James’ fate was sealed. Still, they are praying to the Lord, praying for Peter. Speaking to God who is in control.

Exactly what they were praying, we cannot be certain. Possibly they were praying for Peter to stand strong in the face of trial, to be confident that death is but the gateway to eternal life because Christ has already died the death we deserve for our sin. If they were praying for his release, it was probably with a view to his trial, though the events of the night make it seem as if they did not have much hope in this regard. We cannot know the precise nature of their petitions, but we do know that they were praying to the Lord and that this is the response of faith to Christ’s kingship.

The prayers of God’s children are pleasing to the Lord. They demonstrate dependence, they acknowledge God’s power and our Father is pleased to hear and answer our prayers. Indeed, as we confess, God will give his grace and Spirit to those who ask him for these gifts and thank him for them. That is to say, the Lord delights to be at work in this world in answer to the prayers of his children.

Our prayers do not change God’s plans or purposes. Peter would have been freed from prison whether that was the precise request of the church or not. Even so, our Lord tells us what to pray and he promises that he will answer prayer which is consistent with his plans and purposes. He wants to be at work in this world in answer to prayer. He wants his church to petition for the release of Peter so that he can be praised when Peter knocks at the door. He wants his church to pray for the coming of his kingdom and the defeat of tyrants so that he can be praised when Herod is removed from his throne. He wants his church to ask for the release of James and to keep trusting him when that does not happen. The workings of God’s providence cannot be known ahead of time and we submit to them when they come.

Prayer to God is our response to his work of salvation, a practical demonstration of faith. We pray in accordance with God’s plans and purposes; we use the words that our Lord Jesus taught us as a model, and we do so with hope and expectation. God can work miracles and he does work miracles today. Tyrants can come to an end. New doors for the gospel can be opened in our midst and abroad. At the same time, we pray trusting that God is God and he knows what is best.