< Acts 12 >

1 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church.
Or intorno a quel tempo, il re Erode mise mano a maltrattare alcuni della chiesa;
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
e fece morir per la spada Giacomo, fratello di Giovanni.
3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And [those] were the days of unleavened bread.
E vedendo che ciò era grato ai Giudei, continuo e fece arrestare anche Pietro. Or erano i giorni degli azzimi.
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.
E presolo, lo mise in prigione, dandolo in guardia a quattro mute di soldati di quattro l’una; perché, dopo la Pasqua, voleva farlo comparire dinanzi al popolo.
5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
Pietro dunque era custodito nella prigione; ma fervide preghiere eran fatte dalla chiesa a Dio per lui.
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.
Or quando Erode stava per farlo comparire, la notte prima, Pietro stava dormendo in mezzo a due soldati, legato con due catene; e le guardie davanti alla porta custodivano la prigione.
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.
Ed ecco, un angelo del Signore sopraggiunse, e una luce risplendé nella cella; e l’angelo, percosso il fianco a Pietro, lo svegliò, dicendo: Lèvati prestamente. E le catene gli caddero dalle mani.
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.
E l’angelo disse: Cingiti, e lègati i sandali. E Pietro fece così. Poi gli disse: Mettiti il mantello, e seguimi.
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.
Ed egli, uscito, lo seguiva, non sapendo che fosse vero quel che avveniva per mezzo dell’angelo, ma pensando di avere una visione.
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.
Or com’ebbero passata la prima e la seconda guardia, vennero alla porta di ferro che mette in città, la quale si aperse loro da sé; ed essendo usciti, s’inoltrarono per una strada: e in quell’istante l’angelo si partì da lui.
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.
E Pietro, rientrato in sé, disse: Ora conosco per certo che il Signore ha mandato il suo angelo e mi ha liberato dalla mano di Erode e da tutta l’aspettazione del popolo dei Giudei.
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.
E considerando la cosa, venne alla casa di Maria, madre di Giovanni soprannominato Marco, dove molti fratelli stavano raunati e pregavano.
13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda.
E avendo Pietro picchiato all’uscio del vestibolo, una serva, chiamata Rode venne ad ascoltare;
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.
e riconosciuta la voce di Pietro, per l’allegrezza non aprì l’uscio, ma corse dentro ad annunziare che Pietro stava davanti alla porta.
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.
E quelli le dissero: Tu sei pazza! Ma ella asseverava che era così. Ed essi dicevano: E’ il suo angelo.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
Ma Pietro continuava a picchiare, e quand’ebbero aperto, lo videro e stupirono.
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.
Ma egli, fatto lor cenno con la mano che tacessero, raccontò loro in qual modo il Signore l’avea tratto fuor della prigione. Poi disse: Fate sapere queste cose a Giacomo ed ai fratelli. Ed essendo uscito, se ne andò in un altro luogo.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Or, fattosi giorno, vi fu non piccol turbamento fra i soldati, perché non sapevano che cosa fosse avvenuto di Pietro.
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 Judæa to Cæsarea, and tarried there.
Ed Erode, cercatolo, e non avendolo trovato, esaminate le guardie, comandò che fosser menate al supplizio. Poi, sceso di Giudea a Cesarea, vi si trattenne.
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.
Or Erode era fortemente adirato contro i Tiri e i Sidoni; ma essi di pari consentimento si presentarono a lui; e guadagnato il favore di Blasto, ciambellano del re, chiesero pace, perché il loro paese traeva i viveri dal paese del re.
21 And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.
Nel giorno fissato, Erode, indossato l’abito reale, e postosi a sedere sul trono, li arringava pubblicamente.
22 And the people shouted, [saying], The voice of a god, and not of a man.
E il popolo si mise a gridare: Voce d’un dio, e non d’un uomo!
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.
In quell’istante, un angelo del Signore lo percosse, perché non avea dato a Dio la gloria; e morì, roso dai vermi.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Ma la parola di Dio progrediva e si spandeva di più in più.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
E Barnaba e Saulo, compiuta la loro missione, tornarono da Gerusalemme, prendendo seco Giovanni soprannominato Marco.

< Acts 12 >