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Fervent persevering prayers PETER released from prison

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 122, under Acts 12:5–8.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 122

METRE

7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Acts 12:5–8 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

Fervent persevering prayers

Are faith’s assured resource,

Brazen gates, and iron bars,

In vain withstand their force:

Peter when in prison cast,

Though by soldiers kept with care;

Though the doors were bolted fast,

Was soon released by prayer.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Acts 12:5–8. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. 6On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ACTS 12:5–8 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ACTS 12

While he slept an angel came And spread a light around; Touched, and called him by his name, And raised him from the ground: All his chains and fetters burst, Every door wide open flew; Peter thought he dreamed, at first, But found the vision true. STANZA II

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 122. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 122 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Fervent persevering prayers

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