This passage offers a paradigm for a prayer of request. Psalms of petition are another source for prayer form(s). This prayer shows an awareness of how scripture can be used to ‘read’ a circumstance, and thereby facilitate the relevant construction of the request to God. The prayer has following features:
| v. 24 | To God, who is both Lord (Gk: despota) and Creator. |
| v. 24 | With one accord (Gk: homothumadon—about the same purpose. |
| vv. 24, 29 | They (plural) lifted up their voice . . . said … (your servants … they may speak . . .). |
| vv. 25-26 | Cite Scripture (from David in Psalm 2). |
| vv. 27-28 | Apply it to recent fulfillment about (God’s holy child) Jesus. |
| vv. 29-30 | Petition (purpose of prayer): Now, Lord (Gk: kurie)… grant… |
| v. 30 | Requesting it be done through (Gk dia) the name of (God’s holy child) … Jesus. (Cf. John 16:23). |
This model offers a challenge to ecclesias to facilitate the joining of voices together in prayer and confirms the pattern of asking through Jesus.
1st Peter: Some New Testament Allusions