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12 And in the same time Herod the king sent power, to torment some men of the church.[a]

And he slew by sword James, the brother of John.

And he saw that it pleased to the Jews, and cast to take also Peter; and the days of therf loaves were.

And when he had caught Peter, he sent him into prison; and betook him to four quaternions of knights, to keep him, and would after pask bring him forth to the people [willing after pask to bring him forth to the people].

And Peter was kept in prison; but prayer was made of the church without ceasing to God for him.

But when Herod should bring him forth, in that night Peter was sleeping betwixt two knights, and was bound with two chains [in that night, Peter was sleeping between two knights, bound with two chains]; and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And lo! an angel of the Lord stood nigh, and light shone in the prison house. And when he had smitten the side of Peter, he raised him, and said, Rise thou swiftly [And the side of Peter smitten, he raised, or waked, him, saying, Rise swiftly]. And at once [And anon] the chains felled down from his hands.

And the angel said to him, Gird thee, and do on thine hoses [and do on thy hoses]. And he did so. And he said to him, Do about thee thy clothes [Do about to thee thy cloth], and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and he wist not that it was sooth, that was done by the angel; for he guessed himself to have seen a vision.

10 And they passed the first and the second ward, and came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which at once was opened to them[b]. And they went out, and came [forth] into one street, and at once [and anon] the angel passed away from him.

11 And Peter turned again to himself, and said [And Peter turning again to himself, said], Now I know verily, that the Lord sent his angel, and delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the abiding of the people of Jews.

12 And he beheld, and came to the house of Mary [And he beholding, came to the house of Mary], the mother of John, that is named Mark, where many were gathered together, and praying.

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel, Rhoda by name, came forth to see.

14 And when she knew the voice of Peter, for joy she opened not the gate, but ran in, and told, that Peter stood at the gate [that Peter stood before the gate].

15 And they said to her, Thou maddest [Thou maddest, or art mad]. But she affirmed, that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.

16 But Peter abode still, and knocked [Forsooth Peter lasted knocking]. And when they had opened the door, they saw him, and wondered.

17 And he beckoned to them with his hand to be still, and told how the Lord had led him out of the prison[c]. And he said, Tell ye to James and to the brethren these things. And he went out, and went into another place.

18 And when the day was come, there was not little troubling among the knights, what was done of Peter.

19 And when Herod had sought him, and found not, after that he had made inquiring of the keepers, he commanded them to be brought to him. And he came down from Judaea into Caesarea, and dwelled there.

20 And he was wroth to men of Tyre and of Sidon [of Tyre and Sidon]. And they of one accord came to him, when they had counseled with Blastus, that was the king's chamberlain, they asked peace, for as much as their countries were victualed of him [for that their countries were nourished by him].

21 And in a day that was ordained, Herod was clothed with king's clothing, and sat for doomsman, and spake to them. [Forsooth a day ordained, Herod clothed with king's clothing, sat for doomsman, and spake to them.]

22 And the people cried, The voice of God, and not of man.

23 And at once [Soothly anon] an angel of the Lord smote him, for he had not given honour to God; and he was wasted of worms, and died.

24 And the word of the Lord waxed, and was multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul turned again from Jerusalem, when the ministry was filled [Forsooth Barnabas and Saul turned again from Jerusalem, the ministry fulfilled], and took John, that was named Mark.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:1 Forsooth in the same time, Herod the king sent hands, to torment some men of the church.
  2. Acts 12:10 the which willfully is opened to them/which at their own will was opened to them
  3. Acts 12:17 Soothly he beckoning to them with hand to be still, told them how the Lord had led him out of the prison

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John,(B) put to death with the sword.(C) When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.(E) After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.(F)

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.(G)

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,(H) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel(I) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.(J)

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter 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.(K) 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,(L) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself(M) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me(N) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,(O) where many people had gathered and were praying.(P) 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.(Q) 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed(R) she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”(S)

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand(T) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James(U) and the other brothers and sisters(V) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.(W)

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea(X) and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon;(Y) they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.(Z)

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel(AA) of the Lord struck him down,(AB) and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God(AC) continued to spread and flourish.(AD)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

25 When Barnabas(AE) and Saul had finished their mission,(AF) they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:25 Some manuscripts to