Acts 12
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
Now, about that time, King Herod arrested certain members of the Church, in order to ill-treat them;
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
and James, John's brother, he beheaded.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
4 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.
He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.
6 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.
Now when Herod was on the point of taking him out of prison, that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were on duty outside the door.
7 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.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell; and, striking Peter on the side, he woke him and said, "Rise quickly." Instantly the chains dropped off his wrists.
8 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.
"Fasten your girdle," said the angel, "and tie on your sandals." He did so. Then the angel said, "Throw your cloak round you, and follow me."
9 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.
So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision.
10 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.
And passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. This opened to them of itself; and, going out, they passed on through one of the streets, and then suddenly the angel left him.
11 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.
Peter coming to himself said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 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.
So, after thinking things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
14 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.
and recognizing Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing there.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
"You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door], and saw him, they were astonished.
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement.
17 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.
But he motioned with his hand for silence, and then described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell all this to James and the brethren," he added. Then he left them, and went to another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
19 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.
And when Herod had had him searched for and could not find him, after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea and remained there.
20 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].
Now the people of Tyre and Sidon had incurred Herod's violent displeasure. So they sent a large deputation to wait on him; and having secured the good will of Blastus, his treasurer, they begged the king to be friendly with them again, because their country was dependent on his for its food supply.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
22 And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.
and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
23 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.
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the glory to God, and being eaten up by worms, he died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
But God's Message prospered, and converts were multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.
