Acts 12
12
More Persecution
1About this time King Herod#12.1 King Herod: Herod Agrippa I, ruler of all Palestine. began to persecute some members of the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he went on to arrest Peter. (This happened during the time of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4#Ex 12.1–27After his arrest Peter was put in jail, where he was handed over to be guarded by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after Passover. 5So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying earnestly to God for him.
Peter is Set Free from Prison
6The night before Herod was going to bring him out to the people, Peter was sleeping between two guards. He was tied with two chains, and there were guards on duty at the prison gate. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At once the chains fell off Peter's hands. 8Then the angel said, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so, and the angel said, “Put your cloak round you and come with me.” 9Peter followed him out of the prison, not knowing, however, if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed by the first guard post and then the second, and came at last to the iron gate leading into the city. The gate opened for them by itself, and they went out. They walked down a street, and suddenly the angel left Peter.
11Then Peter realized what had happened to him, and said, “Now I know that it is really true! The Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod's power and from everything the Jewish people expected to happen.”
12Aware of his situation, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outside door, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer it. 14She recognized Peter's voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside. 15“You are mad!” they told her. But she insisted that it was true. So they answered, “It is his angel.”
16Meanwhile Peter kept on knocking. At last they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were amazed. 17He motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, and he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell this to James and the rest of the believers,” he said; then he left and went somewhere else.
18When morning came, there was a tremendous confusion among the guards — what had happened to Peter? 19Herod gave orders to search for him, but they could not find him. So he had the guards questioned and ordered them to be put to death.
After this, Herod left Judea and spent some time in Caesarea.
The Death of Herod
20Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, so they went in a group to see him. First they convinced Blastus, the man in charge of the palace, that he should help them. Then they went to Herod and asked him for peace, because their country got its food supplies from the king's country.
21On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. 22“It isn't a man speaking, but a god!” they shouted. 23At once the angel of the Lord struck Herod down, because he did not give honour to God. He was eaten by worms and died.
24Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and grow.
25Barnabas and Saul finished their mission and returned from#12.25 from; some manuscripts have to. Jerusalem, taking John Mark with them.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Acts 12
12
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1About that time King Herod extended his hands to harm certain ones from the church. 2#Mt 20:23; Heb 11:37He killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3#Ex 23:15; Ac 24:27Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to arrest Peter also. This happened during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4#Lk 21:12When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him before the people after the Passover.
5#2Co 1:11So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed to God without ceasing for him.
Peter Delivered From Prison
6#Ac 21:33The very night when Herod would have brought him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the guards before the door were securing the prison. 7#Ac 16:26; 5:19And suddenly an angel of the Lord approached him, and a light shone in the prison. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Rise up, quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
8Then the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put your sandals on.” And he did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9#Ps 126:1He went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10#Ac 5:19; 16:26When they had passed the first and the second guards, they came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and went forward one street. And immediately the angel left him.
11#Da 3:28; 6:22When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I certainly know that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12#Ac 12:5; 12:25Realizing this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13As Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14#Lk 24:41When she recognized Peter’s voice, from joy she did not open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the door.
15#Mt 18:10They said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was really so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
16But Peter continued knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17#Ac 13:16; 15:13Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18Now when day came, there was a great disturbance among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19#Ac 16:27When Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
The Death of Herod
20#Eze 27:17; Ezr 3:7Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him in unity, and having made Blastus, the king’s personal servant, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country.
21On an appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave a public speech to them. 22The mob shouted, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23#1Sa 25:38; 2Sa 24:16–17Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24#Ac 6:7; 19:20But the word of God spread and increased.
25#Ac 12:12; 4:36When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their ministry, they returned from Jerusalem and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
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