Prayer Pattern of the Early New Testament Church

The New Testament records how the Holy Spirit guided the early church to thrive in prayer. From the beginning of the New Testament Church, prayer was offered continuously - individually and collectively by the believers. Public prayers were common in the church of the apostolic era. In the Book of Acts itself, there are about 50 instances of prayer – both private and (mostly) public prayers.

Persistent prayers of the apostles and early believers played a major role in advancing the Gospel work and establishing churches in Israel, Asia Minor, Europe, and even to the ends of the earth. Through prayer, Christians persevered and progressed in their spiritual growth and established churches amid great opposition and persecution arising in most places.

Communal Prayer Gatherings

Right from the inception of the church, believers gathered to pray. Such gatherings of believers were regular and frequent. The following records in the Acts of the Apostles give evidence to the early believers’ commitment to collective prayers in the early churches. Some of those instances of communal prayers were pre-arranged, while others were spontaneous.

• “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14).
• “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
• “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour” (Acts 3:1).
• “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
• “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
• “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:15).
• “… but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5).
• “… he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12).
• “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted… And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:2-3).
• “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed” (Acts 14:23).
• “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made” (Acts 16:13).
• “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).
• “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer…” (Acts 16:16).
• “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36).
• “… we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed” (Acts 21:5).

The early believers met together to pray whenever and wherever they found it necessary. Having no church building, they met in homes which were large enough to accommodate their gatherings. They also met to pray in the temple and in synagogues until they were forbidden from those places by the Jewish authorities. On occasion, they would meet in public places, like riverbanks and the seashore, to pray. When in trouble, those who were together would pray, like Paul and Silas who prayed in their prison cell.

In all those instances of communal prayers, believers met with one accord to pray (cf. Acts 1:14; 2:42, 46-47; 4:24). They were all in harmony about what had been uttered to God in prayer. The ones who prayed articulated the thoughts of all who had gathered to pray. In their prayers, they praised God (cf. Acts 2:47; 3:8-9; 4:21; 27:35), submitted their petitions in conformity to the Scriptures (cf. Acts 4:24-29), prayed for the preachers of the Word (cf. Acts 4:29), asked for healing and strength for their persecuted and afflicted brethren (cf. Acts 4:30-31), and pleaded for the spiritual progress and protection of the believers and their works (cf. Acts 14:23, 26; 15:40; 20:32).

The New Testament also records the apostolic exhortations to the churches to get together to pray. The apostle Paul exhorted men to pray during believers’ gatherings, as well as for one another – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men… I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:1, 8). Paul encouraged the Roman Christians to strive together with him in prayer – “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). The apostle James exhorted Christians to engage in prayer for one another, when sickness afflicts them – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). They were also told for whom they should not pray – “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1 John 5:16).

Personal Times of Prayer

The apostles and the early Christians also spent time in personal prayers to God. They prayed at various times – morning, afternoon, evening, night. Some even fasted and prayed for several days. In their prayers, they worshipped God and prayed for themselves, others, and the Lord’s work. Following are a few examples of the many personal prayer times mentioned in the New Testament:

• At the time of his extreme physical pain, trauma and death, Stephen, who was stoned, called “upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).
• “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up” (Acts 9:40).
• “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2).
• “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour” (Acts 10:9).
• “And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God” (Acts 10:30-31).
• “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy” (Philippians 1:4).
• “For what thanks can we render to God again for you, … night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10).

Whether it be communal or personal prayer, the believers were engaged in prayer happily and confidently – “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15). They prayed on very many subjects, but always submitting to God’s will as revealed in His Word.

Let it be our joy to pray for one another in our communal and private prayers, for it is a privilege and duty which God’s Word teaches us for the edification of the body of Christ. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).