1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to
oppress some of the assembly. 2 He killed James, the brother of John, with
the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize
Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4 When he had
arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four
soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after
the Passover. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant
prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6 The same night when
Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the
cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up
quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8 The angel said to him,
“Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on
your cloak, and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t
know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a
vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came
to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself.
They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed
from him.
11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the
Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and
from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 Thinking about that,
he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark,
where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked
at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she
recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and
reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so.
They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they
had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 17 But he, beckoning to them
with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out
of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.”
Then he departed, and went to another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had sought for him, and
didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be
put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came
with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,
their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the
king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in
royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22 The
people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an
angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he
was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 Barnabas and Saul
returned to*1 Jerusalem, when they
had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was
Mark.
1 TR reads “from” instead of “to”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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