Acts 12

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

1Now about that time 1Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. 2And he 2had James the brother of John 3put to death with a sword. 3When he saw that it 4pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now 5it was during 6the days of Unleavened Bread. 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four 78squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after 9the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

6On 10the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 11bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, 12an angel of the Lord suddenly 13appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And 14his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and 15put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing 16a vision. 10When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which 17opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter 18came 19to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that 20the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all 21that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of 22John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and 23were praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gate, 24a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, 25because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is 26his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But 27motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to 2829James and 30the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to 31what could have become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they 32be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to 33Caesarea and was spending time there.

Death of Herod

20Now he was very angry with the people of 34Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because 35their country was fed by the king’s country. 21On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the 36rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately 37an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and 38died.

24But 39the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

25And 40Barnabas and 41Saul returned 42from Jerusalem 43when they had fulfilled their 44mission, taking along with them 45John, who was also called Mark.