One of two things would have ceased their prayers for imprisoned Peter, his death or his release; the end of his life or the answer to the prayer.

One Sabbath George Whitefield exhorted his hearers never to cease praying and using other means for the spiritual good of their relatives and friends until death. He went on to relate that he had had a brother, for whose spiritual welfare he had used every means. He had warned him and prayed for him. All of this was apparently to no avail, till a few weeks ago, when his brother to his astonishment and joy suddenly arrived at his house. With tears the brother related that he had come to tell him about the great change that divine grace had wrought upon his heart and to acknowledge with gratitude his obligation to the brother whom God had made the instrument of it. Mr Whitefield added, that he had that morning received a letter informing him, that on his brother's return home he dropped down dead as he was getting out of the stagecoach.