Acts 12:1-24

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the

church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3

and when he saw that it

pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of

Unleavened Bread. 4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering

him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring

him out to the people. 5

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was

made to God by the church.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping

between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were

guarding the prison. 7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light

shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.”

And the chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put

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 followed him. He did not know that what was being

done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they had

passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city.

It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street,

and immediately the angel left him. 11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am

sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from

all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other

name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13And when he

knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

14Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported

that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But

she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”

16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But

motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had

brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the

brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what

had become of Peter. 19And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he ex-

amined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down

from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with

one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for

peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21 On an ap-

pointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered

an oration to them. 22And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a

man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give

God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.