Acts 12

¹Now at the same time, king Herod extended his hand, in order to afflict some from the Church.

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

³And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he set out next to apprehend Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread.

⁴So when he had apprehended him, he sent him into prison, handing him over into the custody of four groups of four soldiers, intending to produce him to the people after the Passover.

⁵And so Peter was detained in prison. But prayers were being made without ceasing, by the Church, to God on his behalf.

⁶And when Herod was ready to produce him, in that same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, and was bound with two chains. And there were guards in front of the door, guarding the prison.

⁷And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near, and a light shined forth in the cell. And tapping Peter on the side, he awakened him, saying, “Rise up, quickly.” And the chains fell from his hands.

⁸Then the Angel said to him: “Dress yourself, and put on your boots.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.”

⁹And going out, he followed him. And he did not know this truth: that this was being done by an Angel. For he thought that he was seeing a vision.

¹⁰And passing by the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city; and it opened for them by itself. And departing, they continued on along a certain side street. And suddenly the Angel withdrew from him.

¹¹And Peter, returning to himself, said: “Now I know, truly, that the Lord sent his Angel, and that he rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews were anticipating.”

¹²And as he was considering this, he arrived at the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered and were praying.

¹³Then, as he knocked at the door of the gate, a girl went out to answer, whose name was Rhoda.

¹⁴And when she recognized the voice of Peter, out of joy, she did not open the gate, but instead, running in, she reported that Peter stood before the gate.

¹⁵But they said to her, “You are crazy.” But she reaffirmed that this was so. Then they were saying, “It is his angel.”

¹⁶But Peter was persevering in knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.

¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained how the Lord had led him away from prison. And he said, “Inform James and those brothers.” And going out, he went away to another place.

¹⁸Then, when daylight came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had happened concerning Peter.

¹⁹And when Herod had requested him and did not obtain him, having had the guards interrogated, he ordered them led away. And descending from Judea into Caesarea, he lodged there.

²⁰Now he was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord, and, having persuaded Blastus, who was over the bedchamber of the king, they petitioned for peace, because their regions were supplied with food by him.

²¹Then, on the appointed day, Herod was clothed in kingly apparel, and he sat in the judgment seat, and he gave a speech to them.

²²Then the people were crying out, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

²³And immediately, an Angel of the Lord struck him down, because he had not given honor to God. And having been consumed by worms, he expired.

²⁴But the word of the Lord was increasing and multiplying.

²⁵Then Barnabas and Saul, having completed the ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, who was surnamed Mark.

Acts 12

¹And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church.

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

³And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes.

⁴And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers, to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people.

⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.

⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

⁷And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room. And he, striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands.

⁸And the angel said to him: Gird thyself and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee and follow me,

⁹And going out, he followed him. And he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision.

¹⁰And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him.

¹¹And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

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

¹³And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken. whose name was Rhode.

¹⁴And as soon as she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy: but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate.

¹⁵But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his angel.

¹⁶But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.

¹⁷But he, beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison. And he said: Tell these things to James and to the brethren. And going out, he went into another place.

¹⁸Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

¹⁹And when Herod had sought for him and found him not, having examined the keepers, he commanded they should be put to death. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he abode there.

²⁰And he was angry with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. But they with one accord came to him: and, having gained Blastus who was the king's chamberlain, they desired peace, because their countries were nourished by him.

²¹And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat and made an oration to them.

²²And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

²³And forthwith an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honour to God: and, being eaten up by worms, he gave up the ghost.

²⁴But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied.

²⁵And Barnabas and Saul, returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.