Hechos 12
1 En aquel tiempo el rey Herodes empezó a perseguir a algunos de la Iglesia;
NOW at that time Herod the king stretched forth his hand to treat cruelly certain persons belonging to the church.
2 y mató a espada a Santiago, hermano de Juan.
And he slew James the brother of John with a sword.
3 Viendo que esto agradaba a los judíos, tomó preso también a Pedro. Eran entonces los días de los Ázimos.
And seeing how agreeable this was to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 A este lo prendió y lo metió en la cárcel, entregándolo a la custodia de cuatro piquetes de soldados de a cuatro hombres cada uno, con el propósito de presentarlo al pueblo después de la Pascua.
Whom having apprehended, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep guard over him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people for execution.
5 Pedro se hallaba, pues, custodiado en la cárcel, mas la Iglesia hacía sin cesar oración a Dios por él.
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
6 Cuando Herodes estaba ya a punto de presentarlo, en aquella misma noche Pedro dormía en medio de dos soldados, atado con dos cadenas, y ante las puertas estaban guardias que custodiaban la cárcel.
Now when Herod was going to bring him forth, the same night was Peter fast asleep between the two soldiers, fastened to them with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison.
7 Y he aquí que sobrevino un ángel del Señor y una luz, resplandeció en el aposento, y golpeando el costado de Pedro lo despertó, diciendo: “Levántate presto”. Y se le cayeron las cadenas de las manos.
And, lo! an angel of the Lord stood there, and light glared through the apartment: then with a stroke on Peter’s side, he roused him up, and said, Arise quickly. And his chains fell from his hands.
8 Díjole entonces el ángel: “Cíñete y cálzate tus sandalias”; y lo hizo así. Díjole asimismo: “Ponte la capa y sígueme”.
And the angel said to him, Gird thyself up, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said unto him, Wrap thyself in thy mantle, and follow me.
9 Salió, pues, y le siguió sin saber si era realidad lo que el ángel hacía con él; antes bien le parecía ver una visión.
And going out, he followed him; and knew not that it was a reality which was done by the angel; but he supposed he saw a vision.
10 Pasaron la primera guardia y la segunda y llegaron a la puerta de hierro que daba a la ciudad, la cual se les abrió automáticamente. Y habiendo salido pasaron adelante por una calle, y al instante se apartó de él el ángel.
So passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron door which leads into the city, which opened to them spontaneously: and being come out, they walked forward through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 Entonces Pedro vuelto en sí dijo: “Ahora sé verdaderamente que el Señor ha enviado su ángel y me ha librado de la mano de Herodes y de toda la expectación del pueblo de los judíos”.
And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know assuredly, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and all the eager expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 Pensando en esto llegó a la casa de María, madre de Juan, por sobrenombre Marcos, donde muchos estaban reunidos haciendo oración.
And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying.
13 Llamó a la puerta del portal, y salió a escuchar una sirvienta llamada Rode,
Peter then knocking at the door of the gatetway, there came a damsel to ask who was there, named Rhoda.
14 la cual, reconociendo la voz de Pedro, de pura alegría no abrió la puerta sino que corrió adentro con la nueva de que Pedro estaba a la puerta.
And well knowing Peter’s voice, she opened not the door for joy; but running in, told that Peter was standing before the door.
15 Dijéronle: “Estás loca”. Mas ella insistía en que era así. Ellos entonces dijeron: “Es su ángel”.
But they said, Thou art raving. But she confidently persisted that it was so. Then they said, It is his angel.
16 Pedro, empero, siguió golpeando a la puerta. Abrieron, por fin, y viéndolo quedaron pasmados.
But Peter continued knocking: and they opened the door and saw him, and were astonished.
17 Mas él, haciéndoles señal con la mano para que callasen, les contó cómo el Señor le había sacado de la cárcel, Después dijo: Anunciad esto a Santiago y a los hermanos. Y saliendo fue a otro lugar.
Then beckoning with the hand that they should be silent, he informed them in what manner the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Tell James and the brethren these things. And departing thence he went into another place.
18 Cuando se hizo de día, era grande la confusión entre los soldados sobre qué habría sido de Pedro.
Now when the day broke, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what could possibly become of Peter.
19 Herodes lo buscaba y no hallándole, hizo inquisición contra los guardias y mandó conducirlos ( al suplicio ). Él mismo descendió de Judea a Cesarea en donde se quedó.
And Herod sought him out earnestly, but not being able to find him, after having examined the guards strictly, he commanded them to be executed. And going down from Jerusalem to Caesarea, took up his abode there.
20 Estaba ( Herodes ) irritado contra los tirios y sidonios; mas ellos de común acuerdo se le presentaron y habiendo ganado a Blasto, camarero del rey, pidieron la paz, pues su país era alimentado por el del rey.
Now Herod was fiercely bent on war against the Tyrians and Sidonians: but they presented themselves unanimously before him, and ingratiating themselves with Blastus who was over the king’s bedchamber, they begged for peace; because their country received all their supply of provisions from the king’s territories.
21 En el día determinado Herodes, vestido de traje real y sentado en el trono, les pronunció un discurso.
Then on a day appointed, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, and seated on his throne, made an harangue unto them.
22 Y el pueblo clamaba: Esta es la voz de un dios y no de un hombre.
And the populace shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not a man.
23 Al mismo instante lo hirió un ángel del Señor por no haber dado a Dios la gloria; y roído de gusanos expiró.
But instantly the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not the glory to God: and being devoured with worms, he expired.
24 Entretanto la palabra de Dios crecía y se multiplicaba.
But the word of the Lord increased, and was widely diffused.
25 Mas Bernabé y Saulo, acabada su misión, volvieron de Jerusalén llevando consigo a Juan, el apellidado Marcos.
Then Barnabas and Saul departed from Jerusalem, having completed the distribution of the sum entrusted with them; and they took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
