Ὁ μὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ· προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν ἐκτενῶς γινομένη ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ. (Acts 12:5)
So then Peter was being kept in the prison, but prayer was being made earnestly by the church to God for him.
This verse contrasts Peter’s confinement with the church’s fervent intercession. The adverb ἐκτενῶς conveys intensity—prayer stretched out, persistent. The imperfect passive ἐτηρεῖτο suggests ongoing custody, while γινομένη (being made) shows continuous prayer.
Focus Topic: Correlative Contrast (μὲν… δὲ) and Periphrastic Imperfect
This verse contrasts Peter’s physical imprisonment with the Church’s spiritual intercession using the μὲν… δὲ construction. The grammar involves a periphrastic imperfect, a present middle participle, and a series of prepositional phrases showing direction and purpose in prayer.
Contrast Structure: ὁ μὲν οὖν… προσευχὴ δὲ
The phrase μὲν… δὲ creates a correlative contrast — “on the one hand… but on the other.”
- ὁ μὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ — “Peter, then, was being kept in prison”
- προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν… γινομένη — “but prayer was being made…”
The contrast heightens the tension between external confinement and internal spiritual response.
Passive Imperfect Verb: ἐτηρεῖτο
ἐτηρεῖτο is imperfect passive indicative, 3rd singular, from τηρέω (“to guard, keep”). It expresses ongoing action in the past — “was being kept.” The passive form stresses Peter as the recipient of the action.
Location Phrase: ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ
ἐν + dative shows location — “in the prison.” The phrase is literal but symbolic of the Church’s vulnerability and dependence on divine intervention.
Periphrastic Imperfect: ἦν… γινομένη
ἦν (imperfect of εἰμί) + γινομένη (present middle participle of γίνομαι) forms a periphrastic imperfect construction: “was being made.” It emphasizes the continuous nature of the prayer.
Adverb of Manner: ἐκτενῶς
ἐκτενῶς is an adverb meaning “earnestly, fervently.” It modifies γινομένη, showing the intensity of the prayer offered by the Church.
Agency and Direction: ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας / πρὸς τὸν Θεόν
- ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας — agent of the passive participle: “by the Church”
- πρὸς τὸν Θεόν — direction of the prayer: “to God”
- ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ — for Peter’s benefit: “on his behalf”
Key Observations
- μὲν… δὲ emphasizes the narrative and theological tension between earthly opposition and heavenly petition.
- ἐτηρεῖτο and ἦν…γινομένη show parallel imperfect forms that contrast imprisonment with prayer.
- The adverb ἐκτενῶς amplifies the emotional and spiritual intensity of the Church’s response.
Syntactical Theology of Resistance
The grammar of this verse reveals more than narrative detail — it conveys the Church’s posture under persecution. The imperfects mark continuous action: Peter remains imprisoned, but the Church does not relent in prayer. Through a periphrastic construction and deliberate participial phrasing, Luke emphasizes that even as political powers guard God’s servants, the community’s prayer is the real weapon — fervent, directed, and unceasing.
