Acts 12:14-25

14Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she failed to open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gateway.

15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel!”

16But [meanwhile] Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were completely amazed.

17But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

19When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea [Maritima] and spent some time there.

20Now Herod [Agrippa I] was extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, the king’s chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king’s country.

21On an appointed day Herod dressed himself in his royal robes, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people.

22The assembled people kept shouting, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man!”

23And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [and instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died [five days later].

24But the word of the Lord [the good news about salvation through Christ] continued to grow and spread [increasing in effectiveness].

25Barnabas and Saul came back from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing with them John, who was also called Mark.