Acts 12:1-9

1Now at that time Herod the king seized some from Messiah’s community to do them harm.

2He had Jacob, John’s brother, put to death with the sword.

3Seeing it pleased the Judean leaders, he proceeded to capture Peter as well. This was during the Days of Matzah.

4After seizing him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads with four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

5So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being offered fervently to God by Messiah’s community.

6Now that very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping—bound with two chains between two soldiers, while guards before the gate were keeping watch over the prison.

7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He poked Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up! Quick!” And the chains fell off his hands.

8Then the angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” and he did so. Then he tells him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”

9Peter went out and kept following him—he didn’t know that what was happening with the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.