Acts 12
1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church so that he might mistreat them.
2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
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.
After he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. That 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.
After arresting him, he put him in prison, assigning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him; he was intending to bring him 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.
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was made earnestly to God for him by those in the church.
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.
On the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over 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.
Behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared by him, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him and said, “Get up quickly,” and his chains fell off 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.”
The angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. The angel said to him, “Put on your outer garment 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 followed the angel and went out. He did not know that what was done by the angel was real. He thought 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.
After they had passed by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; it opened for them by itself. They went out and went down a street, and the angel left him right away.
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.”
When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent 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 who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were 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 servant girl 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.
When she recognized Peter's voice, out of joy she failed to open the door; instead, she came running into the room; she reported that Peter was standing at the door.
15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
So they said to her, “You are insane.” 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.
But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, 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.
Peter motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and he told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left 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.
Now when it became day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had happened to 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.
After Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then 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 personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They went to him together. They persuaded Blastus, the king's assistant, to help them. Then they asked for peace, because their country received its food from the king's country.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
On a set day Herod dressed himself in royal clothing and sat on a throne; he made a speech to them.
22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!”
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.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
So when Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
