Tag Archives: Acts 12:5

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.… Learn Koine Greek