Acts 12:1-9

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.