Acts 12

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

1 Now about that time
I.e., Herod Agrippa I
Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm.
2And he bhad James the brother of John cexecuted with a sword. 3When he saw that it dpleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were
I.e., Passover week
fthe days of Unleavened Bread.)
4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four
Lit quaternions; a quaternion was composed of four soldiers
hsquads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after ithe Passover to bring him before the people.
5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God
Or constantly
intensely by the church.

6 On
Lit that night
the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, lbound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7And behold, man angel of the Lord suddenly nstood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And ohis chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and
Lit bind
strap on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing qa vision. 10Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which ropened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter scame
Lit in himself
to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that uthe Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all
Lit the expectation of the people of the Jews
that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of wJohn, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and xwere praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gate, ya slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, zbecause of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is aahis angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But abmotioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to
Or Jacob
adJames and aethe brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to
Lit what therefore had become
what could have become of Peter.
19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they agbe led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to ahCaesarea and was spending time there.

Death of Herod

20 Now he was very angry with the people of aiTyre and Sidon; and with one mind they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because ajtheir country was supported with grain from the king’s country. 21On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the
Or judgment seat
rostrum and began delivering an address to them.
22The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately alan angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and
Lit expired
died.

24 But anthe word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

25 And aoBarnabas and apSaul returned aqwhen they had fulfilled their
Lit ministry
mission to Jerusalem, taking along with them asJohn, who was also called Mark.
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