John the Baptist's Prayer in Prison
While the New Testament does not explicitly record a prayer by John the Baptist during his imprisonment, it does describe his actions and circumstances while incarcerated. John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod for reproving him regarding his marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife [7, 13]. During his time in prison, John heard about the works of Christ and sent two of his disciples to inquire if Jesus was "the one who is to come" [7, 13].
The concept of prayer from prison is a recurring theme in biblical literature. The Old Testament contains examples such as the Psalmist crying out to the Lord "out of the lowest prison" [2] and praying for "the groaning of the prisoner" to come before God [4]. The Prayer of Manasseh, a deuterocanonical text, describes King Manasseh humbling himself and beseeching God while "bound and shackled with iron all over in the house of the prison" [6].
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently refers to himself as a "prisoner in the Lord" or "prisoner of Christ Jesus" [1, 3]. Paul and Silas famously prayed and sang hymns at midnight while imprisoned in Philippi, leading to an earthquake and their miraculous release [9, 14]. The early church also engaged in fervent prayer for Peter when he was imprisoned [5].
Patristic writers often reflected on the spiritual significance of imprisonment. Tertullian suggested that the world itself is a greater prison than any physical confinement, arguing that being in prison severs one from the world's affairs and darkness [12]. Augustine, in his exposition on the Psalms, discussed the idea of being delivered from enemies, both human persecutors and invisible spiritual foes that seek to ensnare the soul [8]. He also considered the interpretation of "prison" as the body, from which the soul desires release, though he noted that such a release does not automatically guarantee a better state [10]. Cyprian, writing to bishops about redeeming captives, emphasized mutual love and empathy, urging them to consider the prisoners as their own family [11].
Although John the Baptist's specific prayers in prison are not detailed, the biblical and patristic traditions affirm that prayer is a natural and expected response to imprisonment, a time when individuals might seek divine intervention, guidance, or comfort [9, 6]. John's act of sending his disciples to Jesus demonstrates his continued engagement with his prophetic mission even while confined [7].
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 4:1 (Geneva1599) — I therefore, being prisoner in the Lord, praie you that yee walke worthie of the vocation whereunto yee are called,”
- Lamentations “Lamentations 3:55 (BBE) — I was making prayer to your name, O Lord, out of the lowest prison.”
- Philemon “Philemon 1:9 (BBE) — Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:”
- Psalms “Psalms 79:11 (YLT) — Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.”
- Acts “Acts 12:5 (YLT) — Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him,”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — THAT DAVID, THE NINEVITES, HEZEKIAH, AND HIS SON MANASSEH, ARE EMINENT EXAMPLES OF REPENTANCE,THE PRAYER OF MANASSEH KING OF JUDAH. (part 3): bound and shackled with iron all over in the house of the prison. And bread made of bran was given unto him scantily, and by weight, and water mixed with vinegar but a little and by measure, so much as would keep him alive; and he was in straits and sore affliction. And when he was violently afflicted, he besought the face of the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the face ”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 11:2: Now when John had heard in the prison,.... The person here spoken of is John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, who was now in the prison of Machaerus; being put there by Herod, for his reproving him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and whilst he was there, an account was brought him by his own disciples, see Luk 7:18 of the works of Christ, the miracles he wrought; as the healing of the centurion's servant, the raising from the dead the widow's son of Nain, and the like; upon hearing of which, he sent two of his disciples, who might be the mos”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CXLII.(7) (part 6): prayeth to be delivered? From men who persecuted him? Is it so? are merely men our enemies? We have other enemies, invisible, who persecute us in another way. Man persecuteth, that he may slay the body; another persecuteth, that he ensnare the soul.(8) ... There are then other enemies of ours too, from whom we ought to pray God to deliver us, lest they lead us astray, either by crushing us with troubles of this world, or alluring us by its enticements. Who are these enemies? Let us see whether they are plainly described ”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 16:25: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, When others were asleep, and all things were still and quiet; See Gill on Psa 119:62, and they prayed doubtless for themselves, for their deliverance in God's time and way, and for support under their present afflictions; and for supplies of grace, to enable them to bear with patience and cheerfulness, until an issue was put to them; and for their enemies, and, particularly it may be for the jailer, who had used them so ill; and for the churches of Christ, for all the saints, and for the spread and success of the Gospel: and san”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CXLII.(7) (part 7): is hid with Christ in God." But our body is in this prison, in this world. ... But some have said, that this prison and cave is this body, so that this is the meaning of, "Bring my soul out of prison." But this interpretation too is somewhat at fault. For what great thing is it to say, "Bring my soul out of prison," bring my soul out of the body? Do not the souls of robbers and wicked men go forth from the body, and go into worse punishment than here they have endured? What great request then is this, "Bring my soul out ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TO THE NUMIDIAN BISHOPS, ON THE REDEMPTION OF THEIR BRETHREN FROM CAPTIVITY AMONG THE BARBARIANS. (part 2): and blood--who suffers these things to happen for this reason, that our faith may be tried, whether each one of us will do for another what he would wish to be done for himself, if he himself were held captive among barbarians. For who that is mindful of humanity, and reminded of mutual love, if he be a father, will not now consider that his sons are there; if he be a husband, will not think that his wife is there kept captive, with as m”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. II. (part 1): Other things, hindrances equally of the soul, may have accompanied you as far as the prison gate, to which also your relatives may have attended you. There and thenceforth you were severed from the world; how much more from the ordinary course of worldly life and all its affairs! Nor let this separation from the world alarm you; for if we reflect that the world is more really the prison, we shall see that you have gone out of a prison rather than into one. The world has the greater darkness, blinding men's hearts. The world imposes the more grievous ”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 11:2: Now when John had heard in the prison--For the account of this imprisonment, see on Mar 6:17-20. the works of Christ, he sent, &c.--On the whole passage, see on Luke 7:18-35.”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 16:28: But Paul cried with a loud voice--the better to arrest the deed. Do thyself no harm, for we are all here--What divine calmness and self-possession! No elation at their miraculous liberation, or haste to take advantage of it; but one thought filled the apostle's mind at that moment--anxiety to save a fellow creature from sending himself into eternity, ignorant of the only way of life; and his presence of mind appears in the assurance which he so promptly gives to the desperate man, that his prisoners had none of them fled as he feared. But how, it has ”