In what ways can we pray for others to know Christ like Paul did? The Scene in Acts 26:29 “Paul replied, ‘Short time or long, I pray to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.’” (Acts 26:29) Paul stands before Agrippa in literal chains, yet his heart is free and overflowing with a single desire: that every listener would come to know Christ exactly as he does. His words sketch a clear template for intercession that still guides us today. What Paul Regularly Asked God to Do Reviewing Paul’s prayers throughout the New Testament shows a consistent pattern: • Romans 10:1 – “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.” • 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – He urges “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving” because God “wants all people to be saved.” • Ephesians 1:17-19 – He asks that unbelievers receive “a spirit of wisdom and revelation” so they may “know Him better.” • Colossians 1:9-14 – He prays for people to be “filled with the knowledge of His will,” rescued “from the dominion of darkness,” and transferred “into the kingdom of His beloved Son.” • 2 Corinthians 4:4 – He recognizes that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,” so he prays for that blindness to be lifted. • 2 Timothy 2:25-26 – He seeks that God would “grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,” setting them free from the devil’s snare. Core Requests We Can Bring Before God 1. Open their spiritual eyes • “The eyes of your heart enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18) • Ask that every veil be removed so Christ’s glory becomes unmistakable. 2. Break the power of spiritual blindness • “The god of this age has blinded” (2 Corinthians 4:4) • Appeal for light to pierce darkness and expose deception. 3. Draw them to repentance and faith • “Grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25-26) • Pray for conviction of sin (John 16:8) and the gift of saving faith (Ephesians 2:8). 4. Transfer them from darkness to light • “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) • Intercede for decisive deliverance from bondage and entry into Christ’s kingdom. 5. Give them a new heart • “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26) • Ask for the miracle of regeneration that only the Spirit accomplishes. 6. Surround them with gospel witnesses • “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3) • Request divine appointments, bold messengers, and clear testimony. 7. Nurture lasting transformation • “He who began a good work in you will carry it on” (Philippians 1:6) • Pray that new believers grow in holiness, joy, and perseverance. Praying the Gospel Over Specific Lives • Name them before the Father, declaring that Christ “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • Thank God that Jesus “is able to save completely those who draw near” (Hebrews 7:25). • Ask that the cross and resurrection become personally real, that guilt is lifted, and that new life dawns. Keeping the Long View Paul said “short time or long.” Some conversions are swift like Lydia’s (Acts 16:14); others unfold over years. Continue steadfastly (Colossians 4:2), confident that the gospel “is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16) and that faithful, Scripture-saturated prayer is never in vain. |
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