Hechos 12
1 Y en el mismo tiempo el rey Heródes tendió las manos para maltratar a algunos de la iglesia.
It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the Church.
2 Y mató a Santiago el hermano de Juan a espada.
He had James, the brother of John, beheaded;
3 Y viendo que había agradado a los Judíos, pasó adelante para prender también a Pedro. (Eran entonces los días de los panes sin levadura.)
and, when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the Unleavened Bread.)
4 El cual prendido, le echó en la cárcel, entregándo le a cuatro cuaterniones de soldados que le guardasen: queriendo sacarle al pueblo después de la pascua.
After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people.
5 Así que, Pedro era guardado en la cárcel; mas la iglesia hacía oración a Dios sin cesar por él.
So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the Church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.
6 Y cuando Heródes le había de sacar, aquella misma noche, estaba Pedro durmiendo entre dos soldados, preso con dos cadenas, y los guardas delante de la puerta que guardaban la cárcel.
Just when Herod was intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison.
7 Y, he aquí, el ángel del Señor sobrevino, y una luz resplandeció en la cárcel: e hiriendo a Pedro en el lado, le despertó, diciendo: Levántate prestamente. Y las cadenas se le cayeron de las manos.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words: “Get up quickly.”
8 Y le dijo el ángel: Cíñete, y átate tus sandalias. Y lo hizo así. Y le dijo: Rodéate tu ropa, y sígueme.
The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said: “Put on your girdle and sandals.” When Peter had done so, the angel added: “Throw your cloak round you and follow me.”
9 Y saliendo, le seguía; y no sabía que era verdad lo que hacía el ángel: mas pensaba que veía una visión.
Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was happening under the angel’s guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision.
10 Y como pasaron la primera y la segunda guarda, vinieron a la puerta de hierro, que va a la ciudad, la cual se les abrió de suyo; y salidos, pasaron adelante por una calle; y luego el ángel se apartó de él.
Passing the first Guard, and then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him.
11 Entonces Pedro, volviendo en sí, dijo: Ahora entiendo verdaderamente, que el Señor ha enviado su ángel, y me ha librado de la mano de Heródes, y de toda la expectación del pueblo de los Judíos.
Then Peter came to himself and said: “Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angel, and has rescued me from Herod’s hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting.”
12 Y habiendo considerado, llegó a casa de María la madre de Juan, el que tenía por sobrenombre Márcos, donde muchos estaban congregados, y orando.
As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying.
13 Y tocando Pedro a la puerta del portal, salió una muchacha, para escuchar, que se llamaba Rode.
On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it.
14 La cual como conoció la voz de Pedro, de gozo no abrió la puerta, sino corriendo dentro, dio la nueva, que Pedro estaba ante la puerta.
She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
15 Y ellos le dijeron: Estás loca: mas ella afirmaba que era así. Entonces ellos decían: Su ángel es.
“You are mad!” they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said: “It must be his spirit!”
16 Empero Pedro perseveraba en llamar; y como le abrieron la puerta, le vieron, y se espantaron.
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.
17 Mas él, haciéndoles señal con la mano que callasen, les contó como el Señor le había sacado de la cárcel; y dijo: Hacéd saber esto a Santiago y a los hermanos. Y salido, se partió a otro lugar.
Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding: “Tell James and the Brethren all this.” Then he left the house, and went away to another place.
18 Siendo pues de día, había no poco alboroto entre los soldados, sobre qué se había hecho de Pedro.
In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers — what could have become of Peter!
19 Mas Heródes, como le buscó, y no le halló, hecha inquisición de los guardas, los mandó llevar a la muerte. Y descendiendo de Judea a Cesarea, se quedó allí.
And, when Herod had made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to stay at Caesarea.
20 Y Heródes estaba enojado contra los de Tiro, y los de Sidón; mas ellos vinieron de acuerdo a él; y habiendo sobornado a Blasto, que era el camarero del rey, pedían paz; porque las tierras de ellos eran mantenidas por las del rey.
It happened that Herod was deeply offended with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they went in a body to him, and, having succeeded in winning over Blastus, the Chamberlain, they begged Herod for a reconciliation, because their country was dependent on the King’s for its food-supply.
21 Y en un día señalado, Heródes vestido de ropa real, se sentó en su trono, y les arengaba.
On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state-robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration.
22 Y el pueblo aclamaba, diciendo: Esta es la voz de un dios, y no de un hombre.
The people kept shouting: “It is the voice of God, and not of a man!”
23 Y luego el ángel del Señor le hirió, por cuanto no dio la gloria a Dios; y comido de gusanos espiró.
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
24 Mas la palabra del Señor crecía, y se multiplicaba.
Meanwhile the Lord’s Message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.
25 Y Barnabás y Saulo volvieron de Jerusalem, cumplido su ministerio, tomando consigo a Juan, el que tenía por sobrenombre Márcos.
When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
