Ma`asei (Acts) 12
12
1And about that time Herodes the sovereign put forth his hands to do evil to some from the assembly.
2And he killed Ya‛aqoḇ the brother of Yoḥanan with the sword.
3And seeing that it was pleasing to the Yehuḏim, he proceeded further to arrest Kĕpha as well – and they were the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4So when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to watch over him, intending to bring him before the people after Pĕsaḥ.
5So Kĕpha was indeed kept in prison, but prayer was earnestly made to Elohim on his behalf by the assembly.
6And when Herodes was about to bring him out, that night Kĕpha was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers. And the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7And see, a messenger of יהוה stood by, and a light shone in the building. And smiting the side of Kĕpha he raised him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8And the messenger said to him, “Gird yourself and bind on your sandals,” and he did so. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9And coming out he followed him, and knew not that what was done by the messenger was true, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10And when they had passed the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and went down one street, and the messenger instantly withdrew from him.
11And when Kĕpha had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that יהוה has sent His messenger, and delivered me from the hand of Herodes and from all the Yehuḏi people were anticipating.”
12And having realised this, he went to the house of Miryam, the mother of Yoḥanan who was also called Marqos, where many had gathered to pray.
13And when Kĕpha knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhode came to answer.
14And when she recognised Kĕpha’s voice, she did not open the gate because of her joy, but ran in and reported that Kĕpha stood before the gate.
15And they said to her, “You are mad!” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they said, “It is his messenger.”
16And Kĕpha continued knocking, and having opened they saw him and were amazed.
17And motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he told them how the Master brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report this to Ya‛aqoḇ and to the brothers.” And he left and went to another place.
18Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Kĕpha.
19And when Herodes had searched for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be led away. And he went down from Yehuḏah to Caesarea, and stayed there.
20Now Herodes had been highly displeased with the people of Tsor and Tsiḏon, but with one mind they came to him, and having made Blastos the sovereign’s eunuch their friend, they were asking for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the sovereign’s country.
21And on an appointed day Herodes, having put on his royal clothes, sat on his throne and gave an address to them.
22And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a mighty one and not of a man!”
23And instantly a messenger of יהוה smote him, because he did not give the esteem to Elohim. And becoming worm-eaten, he died.
24And the word of Elohim went on growing and spreading.
25And Barnaḇa and Sha’ul returned from Yerushalayim, having completed the service, and having taken with them Yoḥanan who was also called Marqos.
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Ma`asei (Acts) 12: TS2009
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Acts 12
12
An Angel Helps Peter Escape From Prison
1About this time, King Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church. He planned to make them suffer greatly. 2He had James killed with a sword. James was John’s brother. 3Herod saw that the death of James pleased some Jews. So he arrested Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in prison. Peter was placed under guard. He was watched by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put Peter on public trial. It would take place after the Passover Feast.
5So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.
6It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up. “Quick!” the angel said. “Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so. “Put on your coat,” the angel told him. “Follow me.” 9Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.
11Then Peter realized what had happened. He said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
12When Peter understood what had happened, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered in her home. They were praying there. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14She recognized Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she ran back without opening the door. “Peter is at the door!” she exclaimed.
15“You’re out of your mind,” they said to her. But she kept telling them it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”
16Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said. Then he went to another place.
18In the morning the soldiers were bewildered. They couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter. 19So Herod had them look everywhere for Peter. But they didn’t find him. Then Herod questioned the guards closely. He ordered that they be put to death.
Herod Dies
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they got together and asked for a meeting with him. This was because they depended on the king’s country to supply them with food. They gained the support of Blastus and then asked for peace. Blastus was a trusted personal servant of the king.
21The appointed day came. Herod was seated on his throne. He was wearing his royal robes. He made a speech to the people. 22Then they shouted, “This is the voice of a god. It’s not the voice of a man.” 23Right away an angel of the Lord struck Herod down. Herod had not given praise to God. So he was eaten by worms and died.
24But God’s word continued to spread and many people believed the message.
Barnabas and Saul Are Sent Off
25Barnabas and Saul finished their task. Then they returned from Jerusalem. They took John Mark with them.
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