Acts 12

Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison

1During this period King Herod # 12:1 Or “King Herod Agrippa.” incited persecution against the church, causing great harm to the believers. 2He even had the apostle Jacob, # 12:2 Or “James.” Both Greek and Aramaic leave the Hebrew name as it is, Jacob. According to the Gospels, Jacob (James) and John were the first two disciples of Jesus, and Jacob was the first apostle to be martyred. John’s brother, beheaded. # 12:2 Or “executed by the sword.” 3-4When Herod realized how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he had Peter arrested and thrown into prison during the Feast of Passover. # 12:3–4 These events most likely took place in AD 42 or 43. Sixteen soldiers were assigned to guard him until Herod could bring him to public trial, immediately after the Passover celebrations were over. 5The church went into a season of intense intercession, # 12:5 The Greek phrase used here for “intense intercession” means “to stretch tightly in prayer.” asking God to free him.

6The night before Herod planned to bring him to trial, he made sure that Peter was securely bound with two chains. Peter was sound asleep between two soldiers, with additional guards stationed outside his cell door, 7when all at once an angel of the Lord appeared, filling his prison cell with a brilliant light. The angel struck Peter on the side # 12:7 The word translated “struck” is the same Greek word used for Jesus being “struck” for our sins (Matt. 26:31). Jesus was pierced in his side to awaken hearts to God. Peter was awakened from his sleep by an angel who struck him on his side. to awaken him and said, “Hurry up! Let’s go!” Instantly the chains fell off his wrists. 8The angel told him, “Get dressed. Put on your sandals, bring your cloak, and follow me.”

9Peter quickly left the cell and followed the angel, even though he thought it was only a dream or a vision, for it seemed unreal—he couldn’t believe it was really happening! 10They walked unseen past the first guard post and then the second before coming to the iron gate that leads to the city—and the gate swung open all by itself right in front of them!

They went out into the city and were walking down a narrow street when all of a sudden the angel disappeared. 11That’s when Peter realized that he wasn’t having a dream! He said to himself, “This is really happening! The Lord sent his angel to rescue me from the clutches of Herod and from what the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.”

12When he realized this, he decided to go to the home of Mary # 12:12 This Mary was a relative of Barnabas. See Col. 4:10. and her son John Mark. The house was filled with people praying. 13When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young servant girl named Rose # 12:13 Or “Rhoda.” got up to see who it was. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited that she forgot to open the door, but ran back inside the house to announce, “Peter is standing outside!”

15“Are you crazy?” they said to her. But when she kept insisting, they answered, “Well, it must be his angel.”

16Meanwhile, Peter was still outside, knocking on the door. When they finally opened it, they were shocked to find Peter standing there.

17He signaled for them to be quiet as he shared with them the miraculous way the Lord brought him out of prison. Before he left he said, “Make sure you let Jacob # 12:17 This was Jacob (James), the brother of Jesus. and all of the other believers know what has happened.”

18At the first sign of daylight, the prison guards were in a tremendous uproar because of Peter’s disappearance. Herod ordered a thorough search for him, but no one could find him. 19After he interrogated the guards, he ordered them executed. Then Herod left the province of Judea for Caesarea and stayed there for a period of time.

20Now, during those days, Herod was engaged in a violent dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon. # 12:20 Tyre and Sidon are coastal cities in Lebanon, north of Israel. So they sent a united delegation to Caesarea to appeal to him and reconcile their differences # 12:20 The Aramaic can also be translated “They wanted cultivated land,” which makes sense if their food supply was running out. with the king, for Herod controlled their food supply. First they enlisted the support of his trusted personal assistant, Blastus, who secured them an appointment with the king.

21On the chosen day, Herod came before them, arrayed in his regal robes. Sitting on his elevated throne, he delivered a stirring public address to the people. 22At its conclusion the people gave him a round of applause. The crowd shouted, “These are the words of a god, not a man!”

23Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, an infestation of worms, because he accepted the people’s worship and didn’t give the glory to God, and he died. 24But the hope of God’s kingdom # 12:24 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “the word.” kept spreading and multiplying everywhere!

25After Barnabas and Saul had delivered the charitable offering for relief, they left Jerusalem, bringing with them a disciple named Mark (who was also known as John). # 12:25 This is the Mark who wrote the second Gospel included in our New Testament. John (or Yochanan) was his Jewish name; Marcus was his Roman name. Because he once abandoned Paul during a missionary journey, Paul refused to take him with him again. But later, Mark and Paul were fully restored in their ministry together. See 2 Tim. 4:11.

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Acts 12

More Trouble for the Believers

1During this same time, King Herod began to do harm to some of those who were part of the church. 2He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed with a sword. 3Herod saw that many of the Jews liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4He arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. 5So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.

Peter Is Led Out of the Jail

6One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8The angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did as he was told. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.”

9So the angel went out and Peter followed. He did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision. 10Peter and the angel went past the first guard and the second guard. Then they came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened for them by itself. After they went through the gate and walked about a block, the angel suddenly left.

11Peter realized then what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from everything those Jews thought would happen to me.”

12When Peter realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark. Many people were gathered there and were praying. 13Peter knocked on the outside door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14She recognized Peter’s voice, and she was very happy. She even forgot to open the door. She ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” 15The believers said to her, “You are crazy!” But she continued to say that it was true. So they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

16But Peter continued to knock. When the believers opened the door, they saw him. They were amazed. 17Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained to them how the Lord led him out of the jail. He said, “Tell James and the other brothers what happened.” Then he left and went to another place.

18The next day the soldiers were very upset. They wondered what happened to Peter. 19Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and then ordered that they be killed.

The Death of Herod Agrippa

Later, Herod moved from Judea. He went to the city of Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20Herod was very angry with the people from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. But these cities needed food from his country, so a group of them came to ask him for peace. They were able to get Blastus, the king’s personal servant, on their side.

21Herod decided on a day to meet with them. On that day he was wearing a beautiful royal robe. He sat on his throne and made a speech to the people. 22The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” 23Herod did not give the glory to God. So an angel of the Lord caused him to get sick. He was eaten by worms inside him, and he died.

24The message of God was spreading, reaching more and more people.

25After Barnabas and Saul finished their work in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.

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