Acts 12
1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the church.
Vers la même époque, le roi Hérode e se mit à persécuter quelques-uns des membres de l'Église.
2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
Il fit trancher la tête à Jacques, frère de Jean.
3 When he saw that it pleased the Jewish people, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
Voyant le bon effet qu'il produisait ainsi sur les Juifs, il ordonna aussi d'enfermer Pierre. On était à la semaine des Azymes.
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.
Il le fit arrêter et mettre en prison, et chargea quatre escouades, de quatre soldats chacune, de le surveiller. Son intention était de le juger après la Pâque et en présence de tout le peuple.
5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the church to God for him.
Pierre était donc gardé dans la prison et l'Église adressait à Dieu de ferventes prières pour lui.
6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
Or, la nuit qui précéda le moment fixé par Hérode pour sa comparution, Pierre dormait entre deux soldats, retenu par une double chaîne et, devant la porte, des sentinelles gardaient la prison.
7 And look, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly." His chains fell off from his hands.
Tout à coup apparut un ange du Seigneur; le cachot devint resplendissant de lumière. Cet ange, touchant Pierre au côté, le réveilla et lui dit: «Lève-toi vite!»
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."
et les chaînes tombèrent de ses mains. «Mets ta ceinture, lui dit ensuite l'ange, et chausse tes sandales.» Pierre le fit. Il ajouta: «Enveloppe-toi de ton manteau et suis-moi.»
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.
Pierre sortit et le suivit sans croire à la réalité de ce que l'ange lui faisait faire; il s'imaginait avoir une 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.
Cependant ils passèrent la première garde, puis la seconde et arrivèrent à la porte de fer qui donne sur la ville. Cette porte s'ouvrit d'elle-même devant eux; ils sortirent; ils marchèrent dans une rue et, à cet instant, l'ange s'éloigna de Pierre,
11 When Peter 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."
qui revint à lui et se dit: «Je vois maintenant que le Seigneur m'a réellement envoyé son ange, qu'il m'a arraché aux mains d'Hérode et à l'avide impatience du peuple juif.»
12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Après réflexion, il se rendit à la maison de Marie, mère de Jean surnommé Marc, où plusieurs personnes étaient assemblées et priaient.
13 And when Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Il frappa à la porte d'entrée; une servante, nommée Rhode, alla écouter.
14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
Elle reconnut la voix de Pierre; transportée de joie, au lieu d'ouvrir, elle rentra en courant et annonça que Pierre était là, devant la porte.
15 They said to her, "You are crazy." But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."
On la traita de «folle». Elle affirma qu'elle disait vrai. «C'est son ange», dit-on alors.
16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
Pierre cependant continuait à frapper; on ouvrit enfin; on le vit; la joie fut immense.
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 James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.
Il leur fit de la main signe de se taire et leur raconta comment le Seigneur l'avait tiré de prison, puis il ajouta: «Annoncez ces choses à Jacques et aux autres frères.» Ensuite il sortit et s'en alla dans un autre endroit.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
Le jour venu, l'inquiétude fut grande parmi les soldats; ils ne savaient ce que Pierre était devenu.
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 Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Hérode le fit rechercher et, ne le trouvant pas, il mit les gardes à la question et ordonna leur exécution; puis il quitta la Judée et alla demeurer à Césarée.
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. 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.
Les gens de Tyr et de Sidon avaient des difficultés avec lui; ils vinrent ensemble le trouver et, ayant gagné à leur cause Blastus, son chambellan, ils sollicitèrent un arrangement parce que leur pays tirait sa subsistance de celui du roi.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, and sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
Un jour fut fixé et Hérode, revêtu d'une tunique royale, siégea sur son trône et harangua le peuple avec une grande solennité.
22 But the crowd shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man."
Le peuple s'écria: «C'est un dieu qui parle et non un homme.»
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.
A l'instant même un ange du Seigneur frappa Hérode parce qu'il n'avait pas donné gloire à Dieu; et, rongé par les vers, il expira.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Cependant la parole de Dieu se répandait de plus en plus.
25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
Barnabas et Saul, leur mission remplie, revinrent de Jérusalem, ramenant avec eux Jean surnommé Marc.
