Nobody Prayed For The Forgiveness Of Sins After The Resurrection Of Jesus

Is there anywhere in the Bible the disciples asked or prayed for the forgiveness of their sins after the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

This was a question a brother asked a while ago. Rather than give direct answers by saying “No” or “Yes” I feel it is better we take some moments and review the prayers of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus and see the answers for ourselves.

That way, our beliefs will not just be built on the “opinions” of men, but on the never-changing truths of the scriptures.

The Prayers Of The Disciples In The Scriptures (After Jesus’ Resurrection)

Beginning with the first time their prayers were recorded in the Bible to the last, we will look at the content of the prayers, why they prayed and so on.

Act 1:24  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 

Act 1:25  That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 

Act 1:26  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

In these verses above, we see them pray for God’s direction or leading when choosing who would replace Judas in the ministry of the Word. No mention of asking for forgiveness before, during or after that prayer.

The next is Acts 3:6

Act 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

In Acts 3:6, they prayed for healing for the crippled man. They never prayed for God to forgive the man’s sins or theirs before or after that.

The next prayer they made which was recorded is in Acts 4:24-31.

Act 4:24  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 

Act 4:25  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 

Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 

Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 

Act 4:30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 

Act 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 

In the verses we just read, they prayed or boldness, healings, signs and wonders. Again, there is no mention of forgiveness of sins. And this is even one of the longest prayers they made collectively which was recorded in the Bible.

Moving on to the epistles, we see the apostle Paul praying for the church on different occasions. For instance in Eph. 1:15-18 and Eph.3:14-20. Take a look at his prayer points for them.

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 

Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Eph 3:14  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Eph 3:15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

In Ephesians 1:15-18 and 3:14-20 where we just read, Paul prayed for them for knowledge, understanding of the love of God and their inheritance in Christ. He even prayed for them to be strengthened with might and other things. Yet in these two long prayers he made for them, he never asked God to forgive their sins. Not even once!

Move over to Ephesians 6:18-19 and see him telling the church what to pray for. He even told them to pray for him

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel

Interestingly, in Ephesians 6: 19, he told them to pray for him continually for utterance and omitted forgiveness of sins.

In Col. 1:9, he prayed that the church might be filled with the knowledge of the will of God. In chapter 4 and verse 3 of the same Colossians, Paul instructed them to pray for him. There , his prayer request was that opportunities (open doors) to preach the Gospel and utterance be granted to him since he was in prison then. In verse 12 of the same chapter, he told them how Epaphras has been praying for them to fully accomplish the will of God for their lives.

Apostle Paul continued his tradition of praying for the church and requesting their prayers in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians (1The.5:25, 2Th.1:11, 3:1) down to 1 Timothy chapter 2: 1-4.

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 

1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In 1 Timothy chapter 2, Paul told the church to pray for those in government. Not so as their sins will be forgiven but for them to be saved. By being saved here, he meant for the people in government to come to the knowledge of the truth about the saviour-hood of Jesus and all he has done for them. This is clearly explained in verse 4 of that chapter.

So, by looking at all the prayers recorded in the Bible that the disciples prayed and instructed others to do the same, there is not a single mention of a place where they prayed or asked God for forgiveness of sins after Jesus resurrected to life.

Do you know why? It is simply because the sacrifice (the death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus took care of sins once and for all, granting unto man eternal forgiveness. In God’sight, man’s sins (past, present and future) has all been punished and fully paid for by the death of Jesus Christ. Our sins have been eternally forgiven by God. We have complete forgiveness with Him.

The only place in the Bible where it seemed like any disciple ever asked for forgiveness was in Acts 8: 20-24 where Apostle Peter rebuked brother Simon for desiring to buy the gift of God with money. While rebuking him, Peter instructed him to pray as a sign of his repentance. But did you notice how neither Simon nor Peter prayed for forgiveness in that chapter. Read it slowly, else you will miss it.

Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 

Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 

Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 

Act 8:24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 

Act 8:25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 

We cannot take this chapter and build an entire doctrine of asking for forgiveness of sins from it. Why? Because the prayer never happened. Simon’s prayer was to show he has changed his mind about the Holy Spirit. And yet he never made that prayer. Same as Peter. It was never recorded that they did it.

In all the prayers the Bible bare witness that the disciples prayed after the resurrection of Jesus, not one time did it say they asked for forgiveness of sins. This is because the believer in Jesus Christ has had his entire sins forgiven according to Col 1:14, 2:13, 3:13, Ephesians 4:32 and many other places in the scriptures.

I hope this blesses you. Lift your hands and thank the father for the forgiveness of sins we have in Christ. Glory to God!