Atti 12 | Nuova Riveduta 2006

Nuova Riveduta 2006

Erode Agrippa fa uccidere Giacomo; Pietro liberato dal carcere

1 In quel periodo il re Erode cominciò a maltrattare alcuni della chiesa; 2 e fece uccidere di spada Giacomo, fratello di Giovanni. 3 Vedendo che ciò era gradito ai Giudei, continuò e fece arrestare anche Pietro. Erano i giorni degli Azzimi. 4 Dopo averlo fatto arrestare, lo mise in prigione, affidandolo alla custodia di quattro picchetti di quattro soldati ciascuno; perché voleva farlo comparire davanti al popolo dopo la Pasqua. 5 Pietro dunque era custodito nella prigione; ma fervide preghiere a Dio erano fatte per lui dalla chiesa. 6 Nella notte che precedeva il giorno in cui Erode voleva farlo comparire, Pietro stava dormendo in mezzo a due soldati, legato con due catene; e le sentinelle davanti alla porta custodivano il carcere. 7 Ed ecco, un angelo del Signore sopraggiunse e una luce risplendette nella cella. L’angelo, battendo il fianco a Pietro, lo svegliò, dicendo: «Àlzati, presto!» E le catene gli caddero dalle mani. 8 L’angelo disse: «Vèstiti e mettiti i sandali». E Pietro fece così. Poi gli disse ancora: «Mettiti il mantello e seguimi». 9 Ed egli, uscito, lo seguiva, non sapendo che era realtà ciò che stava succedendo per opera dell’angelo: credeva infatti di avere una visione. 10 Come ebbero oltrepassata la prima e la seconda guardia, giunsero alla porta di ferro che immette in città, la quale si aprì da sé davanti a loro; uscirono e s’inoltrarono per una strada; e, all’improvviso, l’angelo si allontanò da lui. 11 Pietro, rientrato in sé, disse: «Ora so di sicuro che il Signore ha mandato il suo angelo e mi ha liberato dalla mano di Erode e da tutto ciò che si attendeva il popolo dei Giudei». 12 Egli dunque, consapevole della situazione, andò a casa di Maria, madre di Giovanni detto anche Marco, dove molti fratelli erano riuniti in preghiera. 13 Quando ebbe bussato alla porta d’ingresso, una serva di nome Rode si avvicinò per sentire chi era 14 e, riconosciuta la voce di Pietro, per la gioia non aprì la porta, ma corse dentro ad annunciare che Pietro stava davanti alla porta. 15 Quelli le dissero: «Tu sei pazza!» Ma ella insisteva che la cosa stava così. Ed essi dicevano: «È il suo angelo». 16 Pietro intanto continuava a bussare e, quando ebbero aperto, lo videro e rimasero stupiti. 17 Ma egli, con la mano, fece {loro} cenno di tacere e raccontò in che modo il Signore lo aveva fatto uscire dal carcere. Poi disse: «Fate sapere queste cose a Giacomo e ai fratelli». Quindi uscì e se ne andò in un altro luogo. 18 Fattosi giorno, i soldati furono molto agitati, perché non sapevano che cosa fosse avvenuto di Pietro. 19 Erode lo fece cercare e, non avendolo trovato, processò le guardie e comandò che fossero condotte al supplizio. Poi scese dalla Giudea e soggiornò a Cesarea.

Erode colpito dal castigo di Dio

20 Erode era fortemente irritato contro i Tiri e i Sidoni; ma essi di comune accordo si presentarono a lui; e, guadagnato il favore di Blasto, ciambellano del re, chiesero pace, perché il loro paese riceveva i viveri dal paese del re. 21 Nel giorno fissato Erode indossò l’abito regale e, sedutosi sul trono, tenne loro un pubblico discorso. 22 E il popolo acclamava: «Voce di un dio e non di un uomo!» 23 In quell’istante un angelo del Signore lo colpì, perché non aveva dato la gloria a Dio; e, roso dai vermi, morì. 24 Intanto la Parola di Dio progrediva e si diffondeva sempre di più. 25 Barnaba e Saulo, compiuta la loro missione, tornarono da Gerusalemme, prendendo con loro Giovanni detto anche Marco.

English Standard Version

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, (Mat 4,21; Mat 20,23; Eb 11,37) 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. (Eso 12,14; Eso 23,15; At 20,6; At 24,27; At 25,9)

Eso 12,14Eso 23,15At 20,6At 24,27At 25,9

4 And 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; Giov 19,23) 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (2Co 1,11; Ef 6,18)

Peter Is Rescued

6 Now 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. (At 21,33) 7 And 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. (1Re 19,7; Lu 2,9; Lu 24,4; At 8,26; At 16,26)

1Re 19,7Lu 2,9Lu 24,4At 8,26At 16,26

8 And 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.” (Mar 6,9) 9 And 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. (Sal 126,1) 10 When 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. (At 5,19; At 16,26) 11 When 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.” (Sal 33,18; Sal 34,7; Sal 91,11; Da 3,28; Da 6,22; Lu 15,17; 2Co 1,10)

Sal 33,18Sal 34,7Sal 91,11Da 3,28Da 6,22Lu 15,172Co 1,10

12 When 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. (At 12,5; At 12,25; At 13,5; At 13,13; At 15,37; At 15,39; Col 4,10; 2Ti 4,11; File 1,24; 1P 5,13)

At 12,5At 12,25At 13,5At 13,13At 15,37At 15,39Col 4,102Ti 4,11File 1,241P 5,13

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. (Giov 18,16) 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. (Gen 45,26; Lu 24,41) 15 They 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!” (Mat 18,10; Eb 1,14) 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But 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. (Giov 21,23; At 13,16; At 15,13; At 19,33; At 21,18; At 21,40; Ga 1,19; Ga 2,9; Ga 2,12)

Giov 21,23At 13,16At 15,13At 19,33At 21,18At 21,40Ga 1,19Ga 2,9Ga 2,12

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And 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. (At 16,27; At 27,42)

The Death of Herod

20 Now 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. (1Re 5,9; Esd 3,7; Ez 27,17; Mat 28,14)

1Re 5,9Esd 3,7Ez 27,17Mat 28,14

21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately 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. (2Sam 24,16; 2Re 19,35; Sal 115,1; At 8,26)

2Sam 24,162Re 19,35Sal 115,1At 8,26

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. (At 6,7) 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from^[3] Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (At 11,29; At 12,12)