Acts 12
1 Around this time King Herod began to persecute some members of the church.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
2 He had James, John's brother, executed by sword.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 When he saw that the Jews were pleased by this, he had Peter arrested too. (This was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 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.
And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 While Peter was kept in prison the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 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.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 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,
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
8 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.”
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 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.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 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.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 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.”
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 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.
And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 When he knocked on the gateway door, a servant girl called Rhoda came to open up.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 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!”
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 “You're mad!” they told her. But she kept on insisting it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 Peter continued knocking. When they did eventually open the door, they saw it was him, and were totally shocked.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door], and saw him, they were astonished.
17 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.
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 When daylight came the soldiers were totally confused as to what had happened to Peter.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 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.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that [they] should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and [there] abode.
20 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.
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s [country].
21 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.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 The audience shouted in response, “This is the voice of a god, not that of a man!”
And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. He was consumed by worms and died.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God spread, and more and more people believed.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem once they had finished their mission, taking John Mark with them.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
