Chapter 12
1 Now about that time , King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly .
2 He killed James , the brother of John , with the sword .
3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews , he proceeded to seize Peter also . This was during the days of unleavened bread.
4 When he had arrested him , he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him , intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover .
5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison , but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him .
6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out , Peter was sleeping between two soldiers , bound with two chains . Guards in front of the door kept the prison .
7 And behold , an angel of the Lord stood by him , and a light shone in the cell . He struck Peter on the side and woke him up , saying , " Stand up quickly !" His chains fell off his hands .
8 The angel said to him , " Get dressed and put on your sandals ." He did so . He said to him , " Put on your cloak and follow me ."
9 And he went out and followed him . He didn’ t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision .
10 When they were past the first and the second guard , they came to the iron gate that leads into the city , which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street , and immediately the angel departed from him .
11 When Peter had come to himself , he said , " Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod , and from everything the Jewish people were expecting ."
12 Thinking about that , he came to the house of Mary , the mother of John who was called Mark , where many were gathered together and were praying .
13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate , a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer .
14 When she recognized Peter ’s voice , she didn’ t open the gate for joy , but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate .
15 They said to her , " You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so . They said , " It is his angel."
16 But Peter continued knocking . When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed .
17 But he , beckoning to them with his hand to be silent , declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison . He said , " Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place .
18 Now as soon as it was day , there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter .
19 When Herod had sought for him and didn’ t find him , he examined the guards , then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea , and stayed there .
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon . They came with one accord to him and , having made Blastus, the king ’s personal aide, their friend , they asked for peace , because their country depended on the king ’s country for food.
21 On an appointed day , Herod dressed himself in royal clothing , sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them .
22 The people shouted , " The voice of a god , and not of a man !"
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him , because he didn’ t give God the glory . Then he was eaten by worms and died .
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied .
25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service , also taking with them John who was called Mark .