< Acts 12 >
1 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church so that he might mistreat them.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 After he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. That was during the days of unleavened bread.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, assigning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him; he was intending to bring him to the people after the Passover.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was made earnestly to God for him by those in the church.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church to God for him.
6 On the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 Behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared by him, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him and said, “Get up quickly,” and his chains fell off his hands.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came on him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 The angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. The angel said to him, “Put on your outer garment and follow me.”
And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals. And so he did. And he says to him, Cast your garment about you, and follow me.
9 So Peter followed the angel and went out. He did not know that what was done by the angel was real. He thought he was seeing a vision.
And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 After they had passed by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; it opened for them by itself. They went out and went down a street, and the angel left him right away.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to listen, named Rhoda.
14 When she recognized Peter's voice, out of joy she failed to open the door; instead, she came running into the room; she reported that Peter was standing at the door.
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 So they said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
And they said to her, You are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 Peter motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and he told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.
But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now when it became day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had happened to Peter.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 After Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there stayed.
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They went to him together. They persuaded Blastus, the king's assistant, to help them. Then they asked for peace, because their country received its food from the king's country.
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
21 On a set day Herod dressed himself in royal clothing and sat on a throne; he made a speech to them.
And on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and made an oration to them.
22 The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!”
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; he was eaten by worms and died.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 So when Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.