Acts 12:3-19

3When he saw that it 1pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now 2it was during 3the days of Unleavened Bread. 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four 45squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after 6the 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 7the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 8bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, 9an angel of the Lord suddenly 10appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And 11his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and 12put 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 13a vision. 10When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which 14opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter 15came 16to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that 17the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all 18that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of 19John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and 20were praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gate, 21a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, 22because 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 23his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But 24motioning 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 2526James and 27the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to 28what could have become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they 29be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to 30Caesarea and was spending time there.