Acts 12
1 At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt,
Around this time King Herod began to persecute some members of the church.
2 and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.
He had James, John's brother, executed by sword.
3 And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were the days of unleavened bread: )
When he saw that the Jews were pleased by this, he had Peter arrested too. (This was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)
4 whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.
After having Peter arrested, he threw him in prison, with four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He planned to have Peter brought out for a public trial after the Passover.
5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.
While Peter was kept in prison the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
6 And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison.
The night before Herod was to have him put on trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, chained to each of them, and with guards at the door keeping watch.
7 And lo, an angel of [the] Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter awake, saying “Quick! Get up!” The chains fell from his wrists,
8 And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.
and the angel told him, “Get dressed, and put on your sandals.” So he did. Then the angel told him, “Put on your coat and follow me.”
9 And going forth he followed [him] and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.
So Peter followed the angel out. He didn't realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening—he thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.
They passed the first and second sets of guards, and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This opened for them by itself. They went out and down the street, when suddenly the angel left him.
11 And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that [the] Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
When Peter came to his senses, he said, “Now I realize this really happened! The Lord sent an angel to rescue me from Herod's power, and from everything that the Jewish people had planned.”
12 And having become clearly conscious [in himself], he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying.
Now that he was conscious of what had happened, Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many believers had gathered there, and were praying.
13 And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda;
When he knocked on the gateway door, a servant girl called Rhoda came to open up.
14 and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry.
But recognizing Peter's voice, in her excitement she didn't open the door. Instead she ran back inside shouting, “Peter's at the door!”
15 And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.
“You're mad!” they told her. But she kept on insisting it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him and were astonished.
Peter continued knocking. When they did eventually open the door, they saw it was him, and were totally shocked.
17 And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related [to them] how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.
Peter held up his hand for them to be quiet, and then explained to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. “Let James and the brothers know about this,” he told them, and then left to go somewhere else.
18 And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.
When daylight came the soldiers were totally confused as to what had happened to Peter.
19 And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed [there].
Herod had a thorough search made for him, but he couldn't be found. After interrogating the guards, Herod ordered that they should be executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to stay in Caesarea.
20 And he was in bitter hostility with [the] Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's.
Now Herod had become furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They sent a joint delegation to see him and managed to win Blastus, the king's personal assistant, over to their side. They pleaded for peace with Herod because they were dependent on the king's territory for food.
21 And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat [of honour], Herod made a public oration to them.
When the day came for their appointment with the king, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and gave a speech to them.
22 And the people cried out, A god's voice and not a man's.
The audience shouted in response, “This is the voice of a god, not that of a man!”
23 And immediately an angel of [the] Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms.
Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. He was consumed by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and spread itself.
But the word of God spread, and more and more people believed.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service [entrusted to them], taking also with them John, surnamed Mark.
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem once they had finished their mission, taking John Mark with them.
