ⲚⲒⲠⲢⲀⲜⲒⲤ 12
It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the church.
He had James, the brother of John, beheaded;
and, when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the unleavened bread.)
4 ⲇ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϭⲟⲡϥ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲛⲟϫϥ ⲉⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ ⲉⲁϥⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲛⲧⲁⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲡⲁⲥⲭⲁ ⲉⲛⲧϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ ⲡⲗⲁⲟⲥ
After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ϭⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲱⲣϫ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ ⲛⲉⲩⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲇⲉ ⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ
So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲁⲅⲣⲓⲡⲡⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲧϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ⲛⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉϥⲙⲏⲣ ⲛϩⲁⲗⲩⲥⲓⲥ ⲥⲛⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲣϣⲉ ϩⲓⲣⲙ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲉⲩϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ
Just when Herod was intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison.
7 ⲍ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲓⲥ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁϥⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ϩⲓϫⲙ ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ϣⲁ ϩⲙ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲁϥⲧⲃⲥ ⲡⲉⲥⲡⲓⲣ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲧⲟⲩⲛⲟⲥϥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛⲅ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲙⲙⲣⲣⲉ ϩⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϭⲓϫ
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words, “Get up quickly.”
8 ⲏ̅ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲛⲧⲉⲕϯⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲅϯ ⲙⲡⲉⲕⲥⲁⲛⲇⲁⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲕ ⲁϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲓⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ϯⲧⲉⲕϣⲧⲏⲛ ϩⲓⲱⲱⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲅⲟⲩⲁϩⲕ ⲛⲥⲱⲓ
The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said, “Put on your belt and sandals.” When Peter had done so, the angel added, “Throw your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 ⲑ̅ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲁϩϥ ⲛⲥⲱϥ ⲉⲛϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ ⲡⲉⲧϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was happening under the angel’s guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision.
10 ⲓ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲛⲣⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲙⲉϩⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲓⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲏⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲧⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲥⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲡⲱϩ ϣⲁ ⲡϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲛϩⲓⲣ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲥⲁϩⲱϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
Passing the first Guard, and then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲓⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲙⲉ ϫⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲛⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲛⲁϩⲙⲉⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧϭⲓϫ ⲛⲁⲅⲣⲓⲡⲡⲁⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲉⲡⲣⲟⲥⲇⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲙⲡⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angel, and has rescued me from Herod’s hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting.”
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲣⲛ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲧⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲡⲉϣⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲟⲩϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩϣⲗⲏⲗ
As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying.
On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲥⲟⲩⲛ ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲏ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲙⲡⲥⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲟ ⲁⲥⲡⲱⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲥⲧⲁⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ϩⲓⲣⲙ ⲡⲣⲟ
She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
“You are mad!” they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said, “It must be his spirit!”
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ⲁϥⲕⲓⲙ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲕⲁ ⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲑⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲧϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲁⲙⲉ ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲛⲁⲓ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲛϫⲁⲓⲉ
Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding, “Tell James and the others all this.” Then he left the house, and went away to another place.
In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers – what could have become of Peter!
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲁⲅⲣⲓⲡⲡⲁⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲱϥ ⲙⲡϥϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁϥⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲣϣⲉ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲉϩ ⲥⲁϩⲛⲉ ⲉϫⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲁⲕⲟⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲕⲁⲓⲥⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ
And, when Herod had made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to stay at Caesarea.
20 ⲕ̅ ⲛⲉϥϭⲟⲛⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲛⲣⲙⲛⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲥⲓⲇⲱⲛ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲡⲓⲑⲉ ⲛϥⲗⲁⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲙ ⲡⲕⲟⲓⲧⲱⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲣⲟ ⲁⲩⲁⲓⲧⲓ ⲛⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲥⲁⲛϣ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲣⲣⲟ
It happened that Herod was deeply offended with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they went in a body to him, and, having succeeded in winning over Blastus, the Chamberlain, they begged Herod for a reconciliation, because their country was dependent on the king’s for its food supply.
On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration.
The people kept shouting, “It is the voice of God, and not of a person!”
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲡⲁⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡϥϯ ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲣϥⲛⲧ ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩ
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
Meanwhile the Lord’s message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲥⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲑⲓⲗⲏⲙ ⲉⲧⲁⲛⲧⲓⲟⲭⲓⲁ ⲉⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲓⲁ ⲉⲁⲩϫⲓ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ
When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
