Atos 4

Atos 4

Constable points out that "The opening reference to God's creative power in the disciples' prayer (v. 24) has many parallels in other Old Testament prayers (e.g., Ex. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 146:6; Isa. 42:5; cf. Acts 14:15; 17:24). This was a common and appropriate way to approach God in prayer, especially when a request for the exercise of that power followed, as it did here (cf. 2 Ki 19:15-19; Isa. 37:15-20)." It is worthy noting that even in the face of persecution on the horizon, the prayer of the young church was primarily praise rather than petition. Is this our usual pattern of prayer, or are our prayers heavy on petition and light on praise? Notice also they did not petition God to remove the pressure but to give them power to proclaim the Gospel in the face of persecution.