Acts 12
1 Now, about that time, King Herod arrested certain members of the Church, in order to ill-treat them;
Now, at about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to ill- treat certain members of the church;
2 and James, John's brother, he beheaded.
and beheaded James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3 Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.)
4 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.
He had him arrested and thrown in prison, and put under guard of sixteen soldiers. He intended, after the Passover, to bring him forth to the people.
5 So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God was made by the church for him.
6 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.
Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison,
7 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.
suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him saying, "Rise up quickly." At once the chains dropped from his hands.
8 "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."
"Gird yourself," said the angel, "and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said unto him, "Throw your cloak about you, and follow me."
9 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.
So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing a vision.
10 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.
And when they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out passed on through one street; and suddenly the angel left him.
11 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."
Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and released me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 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.
So, after he had thought 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 When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
When he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid servant named Rhoda came to answer.
14 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.
And when she recognized Peter’s voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 "You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.
16 Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement.
Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he.
17 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.
He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place.
18 When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
19 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.
Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.
20 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.
Now Herod was violently displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because their country depended upon the king’s country for its food supply.
21 So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
So on the appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, and after taking his seat upon the throne, began to harangue them.
22 and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
"The voice of a god, and not of a man," the people kept shouting.
23 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.
Instantly an angel of the Lord smote him, because he had not given God the glory, and being eaten up by worms, he died.
24 But God's Message prospered, and converts were multiplied.
But the word of God grew and multiplied;
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.
and after discharging their mission, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, surnamed Mark.
