Acts 12

1. Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to persecute some of those of the church;

2. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

3. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also. (Now those were the days of unleavened bread.)

4. And after arresting him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four sets of four soldiers to guard him with the intent of bringing him out to the people after the Passover season.

5. As a result, Peter was securely held in the prison, but fervent prayer was made to God by the church for him.

6. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, during that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards standing before the door were keeping the prison.

7. But suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the building. And after striking Peter on the side, he roused him, saying, “Get up! Hurry!” And the chains fell off his hands.

8. And the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and fasten your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

9. And he followed him, going forth, but did not realize that this was really happening by the hand of the angel; rather, he thought he was seeing a vision.

10. Now after going past a first guard and a second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself; and after going out, they went on through one street, and then the angel suddenly departed from him.

11. And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly understand that the Lord sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

12. And as he was pondering this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

13. Now when Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a damsel named Rhoda came to listen;

14. And when she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited that she did not open the door to the porch, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the porch.

15. But they said to her, “You are out of your mind.” Yet she strongly affirmed that it was so. And they said, “It is his angel.”

16. But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

17. Then, motioning to them with his hands to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he departed and went to another place.

18. And when daylight came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

19. Now when Herod sent for him and he was not found, he questioned the guards and commanded that they be led away to death. And afterwards he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

20. Now there was bitter hostility between Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon; but with one accord they came to him and, having gained Blastus, who was over the king’s bedchamber, as a friend, they sought peace because their country was nourished by the king’s.

21. And on a set day, Herod, who had put on royal apparel, sat down on the tribunal and made an oration to them.

22. And the people cried out, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!”

23. And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him because he did not give the glory to God; and he was eaten of worms, and died.

24. But the Word of God spread and produced much fruit.

25. And Barnabas and Saul, who had taken with them John who was surnamed Mark, returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministration to the brethren in Judea.