Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume III/Ethical/On Prayer/Of Place for Prayer

by Tertullian

Chapter XXIV.—Of Place for Prayer.

But how “in every place,” since we are prohibited^[1] (from praying) in public? In every place, he means, which opportunity or even necessity, may have rendered suitable: for that which was done by the apostles^[2] (who, in gaol, in the audience of the prisoners, “began praying and singing to God”) is not considered to have been done contrary to the precept; nor yet that which was done by Paul,^[3] who in the ship, in presence of all, “made thanksgiving to God.”^[4]

Footnotes

1. Matt. vi. 5, 6, which forbids praying in public.
2. Paul and Silas (Acts xvi. 25).
3. I have followed Muratori’s reading here.
4. Mr. Dodgson renders “celebrated the Eucharist;” but that rendering appears very doubtful. See Acts xxvii. 35.