While, upon various pretexts, the execution of Peter was being delayed until after the Passover, the members of the church had time for deep searching of heart and earnest prayer. They prayed without ceasing for Peter, for they felt that he could not be spared from the cause. They realized that they had reached a place where, without the special help of God, the church of Christ would be destroyed.

Mens Peters henrettelse under forskellige påskud blev opsat til efter påskehøjtiden, havde menigheden tid til grundig ransagelse af hjerterne og alvorlig bøn. Uden ophør bad de for Peter; for de følte, at han ikke kunne undværes i tjenesten. De var klare over, at de var nået til et punkt, hvor Kristi menighed ville gå til grunde, om ikke Gud på en særlig måde greb ind.