Actes 12
1 Or vers ce temps-là, le roi Hérode mit les mains sur quelques-uns de ceux de l’assemblée pour les maltraiter,
It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the Church.
2 et il fit mourir par l’épée Jacques, le frère de Jean.
He had James, the brother of John, beheaded;
3 Et voyant que cela était agréable aux Juifs, il continua, en faisant prendre aussi Pierre; (or c’étaient les jours des pains sans levain; )
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.)
4 et quand il l’eut fait prendre, il le mit en prison, et le livra à quatre bandes de quatre soldats chacune pour le garder, voulant, après la Pâque, le produire devant le peuple.
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.
5 Pierre donc était gardé dans la prison; mais l’assemblée faisait d’instantes prières à Dieu pour lui.
So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the Church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.
6 Mais lorsque Hérode allait le produire, cette nuit-là, Pierre dormait entre deux soldats, lié de deux chaînes; et des gardes, devant la porte, gardaient la prison.
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.
7 Et voici, un ange du Seigneur survint, et une lumière resplendit dans la prison; et frappant le côté de Pierre, il le réveilla, disant: Lève-toi promptement. Et les chaînes tombèrent de ses mains.
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.”
8 Et l’ange lui dit: Ceins-toi et chausse tes sandales. Et il fit ainsi. Et il lui dit: Jette ton vêtement sur toi et suis-moi.
The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said: “Put on your girdle and sandals.” When Peter had done so, the angel added: “Throw your cloak round you and follow me.”
9 Et sortant, il le suivit; et il ne savait pas que ce qui se faisait par l’ange était réel, mais il croyait voir une vision.
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.
10 Et ayant passé la première et la seconde garde, ils vinrent à la porte de fer qui conduit à la ville, et elle s’ouvrit à eux d’elle-même; et, étant sortis, ils allèrent jusqu’au bout d’une rue; et aussitôt l’ange se retira d’avec lui.
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.
11 Et Pierre, étant revenu à lui, dit: Je connais à présent certainement que le Seigneur a envoyé son ange, et m’a délivré de la main d’Hérode et de toute l’attente du peuple des Juifs.
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.”
12 Et s’étant reconnu, il se rendit à la maison de Marie, mère de Jean surnommé Marc, où plusieurs étaient assemblés et priaient.
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.
13 Et comme il heurtait à la porte du vestibule, une servante nommée Rhode vint pour écouter;
On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it.
14 et reconnaissant la voix de Pierre, de joie elle n’ouvrit point le vestibule; mais étant rentrée en courant, elle rapporta que Pierre se tenait devant le vestibule.
She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
15 Et ils lui dirent: Tu es folle. Mais elle affirmait qu’il en était ainsi. Et ils disaient: C’est son ange.
“You are mad!” they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said: “It must be his spirit!”
16 Mais Pierre continuait à heurter; et quand ils eurent ouvert, ils le virent et furent hors d’eux.
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.
17 Et leur ayant fait signe de la main de se taire, il leur raconta comment le Seigneur l’avait fait sortir de la prison; et il dit: Rapportez ces choses à Jacques et aux frères. Et sortant, il s’en alla en un autre lieu.
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 Brethren all this.” Then he left the house, and went away to another place.
18 Mais le jour étant venu, il y eut un grand trouble parmi les soldats au sujet de ce que Pierre était donc devenu.
In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers — what could have become of Peter!
19 Et Hérode, l’ayant cherché et ne l’ayant pas trouvé, fit subir un interrogatoire aux gardes et donna ordre qu’ils soient emmenés au supplice. Et descendant de la Judée à Césarée, il y séjourna.
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.
20 Or il était très irrité contre les Tyriens et les Sidoniens; mais ils vinrent à lui d’un commun accord, et ayant gagné Blaste le chambellan du roi, ils demandèrent la paix, parce que leur pays était nourri par celui du roi.
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.
21 Et, à un jour marqué, Hérode, revêtu d’une robe royale et assis sur une estrade, les haranguait.
On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state-robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration.
22 Et le peuple s’écriait: Voix d’un dieu et non pas d’un homme!
The people kept shouting: “It is the voice of God, and not of a man!”
23 Et à l’instant un ange du Seigneur le frappa, parce qu’il n’avait pas donné la gloire à Dieu; et, étant rongé par les vers, il expira.
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
24 Mais la parole de Dieu croissait et se multipliait.
Meanwhile the Lord’s Message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.
25 Et Barnabas et Saul, ayant accompli leur service, s’en retournèrent de Jérusalem, emmenant aussi avec eux Jean qui était surnommé Marc.
When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
