Acts 12:3-19

3When he saw that it 1pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were 23the days of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four 45squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after 6the Passover to bring him before the people. 5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God 7intensely by the church.

6On 8the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 9bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, 10an angel of the Lord suddenly 11stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And 12his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and 13strap 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 14a vision. 10Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which 15opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter 16came 17to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that 18the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all 19that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of 20John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and 21were praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gate, 22a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, 23because 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 24his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But 25motioning 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 2627James and 28the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to 29what could have become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they 30be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to 31Caesarea and was spending time there.