Prayer in the Lives of the Apostles in the Book of Acts

As best as I could, I compiled this list of verses from Acts having to do with prayer. It may be helpful for us to study prayer from the lives of the early church.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit uses these passages to reveal truth about the practice of prayer and leads us to apply His Truth in our own lives, especially when it comes to prayer.

Acts 1:4

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 

Acts 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

Acts 4:23–31

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 

Acts 6:4

and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 

Acts 6:6

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 

Acts 9:11

The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 

Acts 9:40

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 

Acts 10:9

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 

Acts 12:5

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 

Acts 12:12

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 

Acts 16:25

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 

Acts 20:8

There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 

Acts 20:36

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 

Acts 21:5

When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 

Acts 22:17–21

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 “ ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 

Acts 28:8

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 

See this list of passages from the Gospels for prayers and teachings on prayer from the life of Jesus.

See this list of passages from the NT Letters for prayers and teachings on prayer from the New Testament Epistles.