Acts 12
1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
Now, at about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to ill- treat certain members of the church;
2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
and beheaded 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.
And 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.
He had him arrested and thrown in prison, and put under guard of sixteen soldiers. He intended, after the Passover, to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God was made by the church 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.
Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding 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 his hands.
suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him saying, "Rise up quickly." At once the chains dropped 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.”
"Gird yourself," said the angel, "and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said unto him, "Throw your cloak about you, 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.
So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing 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.
And when they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out passed on through one street; and suddenly the angel left 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.”
Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and released me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
So, after he had thought things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying.
13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
When he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid servant 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.
And when she recognized Peter’s voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them 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.”
"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.
16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he.
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.
He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he 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.
When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
19 When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.
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 personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
Now Herod was violently displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because their country depended upon the king’s country for its food supply.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
So on the appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, and after taking his seat upon the throne, began to harangue them.
22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
"The voice of a god, and not of a man," the people kept shouting.
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.
Instantly an angel of the Lord smote him, because he had not given God the glory, and being eaten up by worms, he died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
But the word of God grew and multiplied;
25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
and after discharging their mission, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, surnamed Mark.
