Acts 12

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

1Now about that time 1Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm. 2And he 2had James the brother of John 3executed with a sword. 3When he saw that it 4pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were 56the days of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four 78squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after 9the Passover to bring him before the people. 5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God 10intensely by the church.

6On 11the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 12bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, 13an angel of the Lord suddenly 14stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And 15his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and 16strap 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 yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing 17a vision. 10Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which 18opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter 19came 20to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that 21the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all 22that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of 23John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and 24were praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gate, 25a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, 26because 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 said, “It is 27his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But 28motioning 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 2930James and 31the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to 32what could have become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they 33be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to 34Caesarea and was spending time there.

Death of Herod

20Now he was very angry with the people of 35Tyre and Sidon; and with one mind they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because 36their country was supported with grain from the king’s country. 21On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the 37rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately 38an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and 39died.

24But 40the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

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