Acts 12
1 Now, about that time, King Herod arrested certain members of the Church, in order to ill-treat them;
Now, in the course of that season, Herod the king thrust forth his hands to harm some of them of the assembly, —
2 and James, John's brother, he beheaded.
And slew James the brother of John with a sword;
3 Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
And, seeing that it was acceptable unto the Jews, he went on to apprehend Peter also (now they were 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.
Whom also having seized, he put into prison, delivering him up unto four quaternions of soldiers, to be guarding him, —intending, after the passover, to bring him up unto the people.
5 So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.
Peter, therefore, was kept in the prison; but, prayer, was, earnestly, being made by the assembly, unto God, concerning 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.
And, when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that night, was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, guards, also, before the door, were keeping 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.
And lo! a messenger of the Lord stood over him, and a light shone in the cell; and, smiting the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying—Rise up quickly! And his chains fell off out of 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."
And the messenger said unto him—Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him—Throw around thee thy mantle, and be following 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.
And, coming out, he began following, and knew not that it was true which was coming about through means of the messenger; but supposed that, a vision, he was beholding.
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, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from 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."
And, Peter, coming to himself said—Now, know I, of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his messenger, and taken me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
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.
And, considering the matter, he came unto the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a considerable number were gathered together and praying.
13 When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
And, when he had knocked at the door of the porch, there came unto it a maiden to hearken, by name Rhoda;
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, recognizing the voice of Peter, by reason of her joy, she opened not the porch, —but, running in, bare tidings that Peter was standing before the porch. But, they, unto her, said—Thou art raving
15 "You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
She, however, kept on strongly declaring that, so, it was. But, they, were saying—It is his, messenger.
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.
And, Peter, continued knocking; and, opening, they saw him, and were amazed.
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.
But, making a sign to them with his hand to hold their peace, he related to them how, the Lord, had brought, him, forth out of the prison; and he said—Carry tidings unto James and the brethren, as to these things. And, going out, he went his way unto some other place.
18 When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
And, when it became day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what, then, Peter had become!
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.
And, Herod, seeking after and not finding, him, having examined the guards, ordered them to be led away [to death]; and, going down from Judaea unto Caesarea, stayed there.
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 he was bitterly hostile to them of Tyre and Zidon; but, with one accord, they came unto him, and, persuading Blastus, who was over the bed-chamber of the king, they were suing for peace; because their country was fed by the king’s,
21 So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
And, on an appointed day, Herod, putting on royal apparel, and seating himself upon the tribunal, proceeded to deliver an oration unto them.
22 and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
And, the populace, began to shout—A god’s, voice, and not, a man’s!
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.
And, instantly, there smote him, a messenger of the Lord, because he gave not the glory unto God; and, becoming worm-eaten, he expired.
24 But God's Message prospered, and converts were multiplied.
And, the word of the Lord, went on growing and multiplying.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.
And, Barnabas and Saul, returned unto Jerusalem, fulfilling the ministering, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.
