Acts 12
1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the church.
It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the church.
2 He killed Yaquv, the brother of Yukhanan, with the sword.
He had James, the brother of John, beheaded;
3 When he saw that it pleased the Jewish people, he proceeded to seize Kipha also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
and, when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the unleavened bread.)
4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people.
5 Kipha therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the church to God for him.
So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.
6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Kipha was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
Just when Herod was intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison.
7 And look, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Kipha on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly." His chains fell off from his hands.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words, ‘Get up quickly.’
8 The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow me."
The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ When Peter had done so, the angel added, ‘Throw your cloak round you and follow me.’
9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was happening under the angel’s guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Passing the first Guard, and then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him.
11 When Kipha had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."
Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angel, and has rescued me from Herod’s hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting.’
12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Maryam, the mother of Yukhanan whose surname was Markos, where many were gathered together and were praying.
As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying.
13 And when Kipha knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it.
14 When she recognized Kipha's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Kipha was standing in front of the gate.
She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
15 They said to her, "You are crazy." But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."
‘You are mad!’ they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said, ‘It must be his spirit!’
16 But Kipha continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.
17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to Yaquv, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.
Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding, ‘Tell James and the others all this.’ Then he left the house, and went away to another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Kipha.
In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers – what could have become of Peter!
19 When Herod had sought for him, and did not find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Yehuda to Qesarya, and stayed there.
And, when Herod had made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to stay at Caesarea.
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tsur and Tsaidan. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
It happened that Herod was deeply offended with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they went in a body to him, and, having succeeded in winning over Blastus, the Chamberlain, they begged Herod for a reconciliation, because their country was dependent on the king’s for its food supply.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, and sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration.
22 But the crowd shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man."
The people kept shouting, ‘It is the voice of God, and not of a person!’
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Meanwhile the Lord’s message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.
25 Bar-Naba and Shaul returned to Urishlim, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them Yukhanan whose surname was Markos.
When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
