Acts 12
1 And about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to do evil to certain of those of the Assembly,
Now about that time, Herod the king laid hands on some from the church to mistreat them.
2 and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,
James, the brother of John, he put to death by sword.
3 and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to lay hold of Peter also—and they were the days of the Unleavened [Bread]—
When he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well (it was during the days of the unleavened loaves)
4 whom also having seized, he put in prison, having delivered [him] to four squads of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover.
—upon seizing him he put him in prison, turning him over to sixteen soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
5 Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the Assembly to God for him,
Well Peter was being held in the prison all right, but the congregation was making earnest prayer to God on his behalf.
6 and when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, having been bound with two chains, guards were also keeping the prison before the door,
So when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with guards protecting the prison in front of the doors.
7 and behold, a messenger of the LORD stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having struck Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, “Rise in haste,” and his chains fell from off [his] hands.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord was there, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he roused him saying, “Quick, get up!” and the chains fell away from his wrists.
8 The messenger also said to him, “Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals”; and he did so; and he says to him, “Cast your garment around and follow me”;
Then the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” So he did. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
9 and having gone forth, he was following him, and he did not know that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision,
So he went out and started following him, not realizing that what the angel was doing was real; he supposed he was seeing a vision.
10 and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came to the iron gate that is leading into the city, which opened to them of its own accord, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him.
Passing through the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, that opened for them by itself; upon exiting they advanced one block, and suddenly the angel left him.
11 And Peter having come to himself, said, “Now I have known of a truth that the LORD sent forth His messenger, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews”;
When Peter had come to himself he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and delivered me out of Herod's hand and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 also, having considered, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where there were many thronged together and praying.
Upon reflection he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (the one called Mark), where a considerable number had gathered and were praying.
13 And Peter having knocked at the door of the porch, there came a girl to listen, by name Rhoda,
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 and having known the voice of Peter, from the joy she did not open the porch, but having run in, told of the standing of Peter before the porch,
Upon recognizing Peter's voice, she was so glad she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing before the gate!
15 and they said to her, “You are mad”; and she was confidently affirming [it] to be so, and they said, “It is his messenger”;
But they said to her, “You're crazy!” but she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
16 and Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished,
But Peter kept on knocking; so when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
17 and having beckoned to them with the hand to be silent, he declared to them how the LORD brought him out of the prison, and he said, “Declare these things to James and to the brothers”; and having gone forth, he went on to another place.
Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Then he said, “Tell these things to James and the brothers.” And going out he went off to a different place.
18 And day having come, there was not a little stir among the soldiers what then was become of Peter,
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter!
19 and Herod having sought for him, and having not found, having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be led away to punishment, and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he was abiding [there].
Well after searching for him and not finding him, Herod examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Going down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians, and with one accord they came to him, and having made a friend of Blastus, who [is] over the bed-chambers of the king, they were asking peace, because of their country being nourished from the king’s;
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; so they came with one accord to him, and having won over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's.
21 and on a set day, Herod having clothed himself in kingly clothing, and having sat down on the judgment seat, was making an oration to them,
So on an appointed day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on the throne and started to deliver an address to them.
22 and the populace were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
But the crowd started calling out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
23 And immediately a messenger of the LORD struck him in return for that he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten of worms, he expired.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give glory to God, and being eaten by worms, he died.
24 And the word of God grew and multiplied,
And the Word of God kept growing and multiplying.
25 and Barnabas and Saul turned back out of Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministry, having also taken John with [them], who was surnamed Mark.
Now Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, having fulfilled their mission, also taking with them John, the one called Mark.
