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, 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 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]—
Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
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.
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, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the Assembly to 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 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,
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, 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 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 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”;
"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 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 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 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.
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 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”;
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 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.
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 Peter having knocked at the door of the porch, there came a girl to listen, by name Rhoda,
When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
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,
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 to her, “You are mad”; and she was confidently affirming [it] to be so, and they said, “It is his messenger”;
"You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
16 and Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and 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 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.
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 And day having come, there was not a little stir among the soldiers what then 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 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].
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 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 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 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, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
22 and the populace were shouting, “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 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.
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 And the word of God grew and multiplied,
But God's Message prospered, and converts were multiplied.
25 and Barnabas and Saul turned back out of Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministry, having also taken John with [them], who was surnamed Mark.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.
