Acts 12

1verseNow about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

2verseHe killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

3verseWhen he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

4verseWhen 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.

5versePeter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

6verseThe 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.

7verseAnd 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.

8verseThe 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.”

9verseAnd 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.

10verseWhen 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.

11verseWhen 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.”

12verseThinking 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.

13verseWhen Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

14verseWhen 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.

15verseThey said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

16verseBut Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.

17verseBut 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.

18verseNow as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

19verseWhen 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.

20verseNow 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.

21verseOn an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

22verseThe people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

23verseImmediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.

24verseBut the word of God grew and multiplied.

25verseBarnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.