Acts Chapter 12
1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to harass⁺ some of the assemblies⁺ of believers.
2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. This occurred during the days known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Exodus 12:18
4 After Herod apprehended Peter, he put him in prison and sent four squads⁺ of soldiers to keep him there, intending to bring him forth to the people after Passover⁺.
5 While Peter was kept in prison, the assembly⁺ of believers prayed to God without ceasing for him.
6 On the night when Herod had intended to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains and keepers by the door kept the prison secure.
7 But then behold, the angel of the Lord came upon Peter and a light shined in the prison. The angel touched⁺ Peter on the side and raised him up saying: Arise up quickly. Instantly, Peter's chains fell from his hands.
8 The angel said to him: Prepare⁺ yourself and put⁺ on your sandals. And so he did. Then the angel said to Peter: Put⁺ on your garment and follow me.
9 Peter followed the angel, but he did not understand⁺ that what was done by the angel was real⁺. He thought that he had seen a vision.
10 After they went past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city. It opened for them of its own accord and they went out and passed by one street. Then⁺ the angel departed from him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said: Now I know with certainty⁺ that the Lord sent His angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the Jews.
12 After he had considered this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark where many believers had gathered together praying.
13 As Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl⁺ named Rhoda came to listen carefully⁺ to see who was there.
14 When she recognized⁺ Peter's voice, she did not open the gate but in her excitement⁺ she ran in and told the others that Peter was standing at the gate.
15 They said to her: You must be mistaken⁺. But she constantly affirmed that it was true⁺. Then they said: It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
17 Peter signaled⁺ to them with his hand to remain silent⁺ and he described⁺ to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Then he said: Go and report⁺ these things to James and to the family⁺. And he departed and went to another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, wondering what had become of Peter.
19 When Herod sought Peter and did not find him, he questioned⁺ the keepers and then commanded that they should be put to death. Then he went from Judea down to Caesarea and stayed there.
20 Now, during this time Herod was highly displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord and sought⁺ peace with him. They had already made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend because their country was supplied⁺ with food by the king's country.
21 Therefore on the appointed⁺ day, Herod dressed⁺ in his royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration to them.
22 The people gave a shout, saying: It is the voice of a god and not of a man.
23 Immediately, the angel of the Lord struck⁺ Herod down because he did not give God the glory, and he died⁺ and was eaten by worms.
24 But the Word of God grew and multiplied.
25 Meanwhile, when Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their ministry, they returned from Jerusalem and they took John, whose surname was Mark, with them.