Acts 12
1 It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the church.
Now, about that time, King Herod arrested certain members of the Church, in order to ill-treat them;
2 He had James, the brother of John, beheaded;
and James, John's brother, he beheaded.
3 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.)
Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
4 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.
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 So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.
So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.
6 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.
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 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.”
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 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 around you 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.”
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 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.
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 On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it.
When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
14 She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
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 “You are mad!” they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said, “It must be his spirit!”
"You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
16 Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.
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 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.
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 In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers – what could have 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 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.
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 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.
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 On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration.
So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
22 The people kept shouting, “It is the voice of God, and not of a person!”
and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
23 Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
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 Meanwhile the Lord’s message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.
But God's Message prospered, and converts were multiplied.
25 When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.
