Acts 12

1 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church.2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread.4 And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.6 And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison.7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9 And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.10 And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him.11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying.13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda.14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate.15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel.16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and tarried there.20 Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king’s country.21 And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.22 And the people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, and not of a man.23 And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.

Acts 12

James is Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1 About that time King Herods laid hands ont some from the church to harm them.t2 He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword.s3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews,t he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.)s4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squadss of soldiers to guard him. Herodt plannedt to bring him out for public trialt after the Passover.5 So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestlyt praying to God for him.t6 On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial,t Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, whilet guards in front of the door were keeping watcht over the prison.7 Suddenlyt an angel of the Lordt appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struckt Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’st wrists.t8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your beltt and put on your sandals.” Petert did so. Then the angelt said to him, “Put on your cloakt and follow me.”9 Petert went outt and followed him;t he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real,t but thought he was seeing a vision.10 After they had passed the first and second guards,t they came to the irons gate leading into the city. Itt opened for them by itself,t and they went outside and walked down one narrow street,t when at once the angel left him.

11 Whent Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescuedt me from the hands of Herods and from everything the Jewish peoples were expecting to happen.”
12 When Petert realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark,ts where many people had gathered together and were praying.13 When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered.t14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and toldt themt that Peter was standing at the gate.15 But they said to her, “You’ve lost your mind!”s But she kept insisting that it was Peter,t and they kept saying,t “It is his angel!”s16 Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the doort and saw him, they were greatly astonished.s

17 He motioned to themt with his hand to be quiet and then relateds how the Lord had broughtt him out of the prison. He said, “Tell James and the brothers these things,” and then he left and went to another place.s
18 At daybreakt there was great consternationt among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

19 When Herods had searchedt for him and did not find him, he questionedt the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution.t Thent Herodts went down from Judea to Caesareass and stayed there.
20 Now Herodts was having an angry quarrelt with the people of Tyress and Sidon.ss So they joined togethert and presented themselves before him. And after convincingt Blastus, the king’s personal assistant,t to help them,t they asked for peace,t because their country’s food supply was provided by the king’s country.21 On a day determined in advance, Herodts put on his royal robes,t sat down on the judgment seat,ts and made a speecht to them.22 But the crowdt began to shout,t “The voice of a god,s and not of a man!”23 Immediately an angel of the Lordt strucks Herodt down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.s

24 But the word of Gods kept on increasingt and multiplying.

25 So Barnabas and Saul returned tos Jerusalemss when they had completedt their mission,t bringing along with them John Mark.t