12
1 Now
about that time,
King Herod stretched
out his hands
to oppress some of
the assembly.
2 He killed
James, the brother
of John, with
the sword.
3 When
he saw that
it pleased the
Jews, he proceeded
to seize Peter
also. This
was during the
days of unleavened bread.
4 When
he had arrested
him, he put
him in prison
and delivered him
to four squads
of four soldiers
each to guard
him, intending to
bring him out
to the people
after the Passover.
5 Peter
therefore was kept
in the prison,
but constant prayer
was made by
the assembly to
God for him.
6 The
same night when
Herod was about
to bring him
out, Peter was
sleeping between
two soldiers,
bound with two
chains. Guards in
front of the
door kept the
prison.
7 And
behold, an angel
of the Lord
stood by him,
and a light
shone in the
cell. He struck
Peter on the
side and woke
him up, saying, “Stand
up quickly!”
His chains fell
off his hands.
8 The angel
said to him, “Get
dressed and put
on your sandals.”
He did so.
He said to
him, “Put on
your cloak and
follow me.”
9 And
he went out
and followed him.
He didn’t know
that what was
being done by
the angel was real,
but thought he
saw a vision.
10 When
they were past
the first and
the second guard,
they came to
the iron gate
that leads into
the city,
which opened to
them by itself.
They went out
and went down one
street, and
immediately the angel
departed from him.
11 When
Peter had come
to himself, he
said, “Now I
truly know that
the Lord has
sent out his angel
and delivered me
out of the
hand of Herod,
and from
everything the
Jewish people were
expecting.”
12 Thinking
about that, he
came to the
house of Mary,
the mother of
John who was
called Mark, where
many were gathered
together and were
praying.
13 When Peter
knocked at the
door of the
gate, a
servant girl named
Rhoda came to
answer.
14 When
she recognized
Peter’s voice,
she didn’t open
the gate for
joy, but ran
in and reported
that Peter was
standing in front
of the gate.
15 They
said to her, “You
are crazy!” But
she insisted that
it was so.
They said, “It
is his angel.”
16 But
Peter continued
knocking. When
they had opened,
they saw him
and were amazed.
17 But
he, beckoning to
them with his
hand to be
silent, declared
to them how
the Lord had
brought him out
of the prison.
He said, “Tell
these things to
James and to
the brothers.” Then
he departed and
went to another
place.
18 Now
as soon as
it was day,
there was no
small stir among
the soldiers about
what had become
of Peter.
19 When
Herod had sought
for him and didn’t
find him,
he examined the
guards, then
commanded that
they should be
put to death. He
went down from
Judea to Caesarea,
and stayed there.
20 Now
Herod was very
angry with the
people of Tyre
and Sidon. They
came with one
accord to him
and, having
made Blastus, the
king’s personal aide, their
friend, they asked
for peace, because
their country depended
on the king’s
country for food.
21 On
an appointed day,
Herod dressed
himself in royal
clothing, sat on
the throne, and
gave a speech to
them.
22 The
people shouted, “The
voice of a
god, and not
of a man!”
23 Immediately
an angel of the
Lord struck him,
because he didn’t
give God the
glory. Then he
was eaten by
worms and died.
24 But
the word of
God grew and
multiplied.
25 Barnabas
and Saul returned
to
Jerusalem when
they had fulfilled
their service,
also taking with
them John who
was called Mark.