1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.19And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.20And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.22And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.24But the word of God grew and multiplied.25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Acts 12
English Standard Version
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.2He killed James the brother of John with the sword, (Mt 4:21; Mt 20:23; Heb 11:37)3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. (Ex 12:14; Ex 23:15; Ac 20:6; Ac 24:27; Ac 25:9)4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. (Lu 21:12; Joh 19:23)5So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (2Co 1:11; Eph 6:18)
Peter Is Rescued
6Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. (Ac 21:33)7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. (1Ki 19:7; Lu 2:9; Lu 24:4; Ac 8:26; Ac 16:26)8And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” (Mr 6:9)9And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. (Ps 126:1)10When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. (Ac 5:19; Ac 16:26)11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” (Ps 33:18; Ps 34:7; Ps 91:11; Da 3:28; Da 6:22; Lu 15:17; 2Co 1:10)12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. (Ac 12:5; Ac 12:25; Ac 13:5; Ac 13:13; Ac 15:37; Ac 15:39; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 1:24; 1Pe 5:13)13And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. (Joh 18:16)14Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. (Ge 45:26; Lu 24:41)15They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” (Mt 18:10; Heb 1:14)16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.17But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.”[1] Then he departed and went to another place. (Joh 21:23; Ac 13:16; Ac 15:13; Ac 19:33; Ac 21:18; Ac 21:40; Ga 1:19; Ga 2:9; Ga 2:12)18Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.19And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. (Ac 16:27; Ac 27:42)
The Death of Herod
20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,[2] they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. (1Ki 5:9; Ezr 3:7; Eze 27:17; Mt 28:14)21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.22And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (2Sa 24:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ps 115:1; Ac 8:26)24But the word of God increased and multiplied. (Ac 6:7)25And Barnabas and Saul returned from[3] Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Ac 11:29; Ac 12:12)