1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 12 ©
1 Herod persecutes the church. 2 Kills James. 3 Casts Peter into prison, whom he causes to be kept with a strong guard. 5 The church prays to God for him. 7 And he is brought out of prison by an angel. 11 Comes to the house of John Mark’s mother, where he knocks and is let in. 17 And relates his deliverance to those who were assembled there. 18 Herod causes the watchmen to be examined, and carried away, and departs to Cæsarea. 20 Makes peace with those of Tyre and Sidon. 21 And is smitten in his pride by an angel, and eaten of worms. 25 Barnabas and Saul come again to Antioch.
NOW about that time 1Herod the king stretched forth his hands 2to vexa certain of the church.
And he killed 3James theb brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days 4of unleavened bread.)
Andc when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to 5four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easterd to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but 6prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when Herod would have 7brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 8bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And,e behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and 9a light shined in 10the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And the angel said unto him, 11Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw 12a vision.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto 13the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his ownf accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
And when Peter 14was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, thatg 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.
And when he had considered the thing, he cameh to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was 15Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
And as Peter knocked at the door 16of the gate, 17a damsel came 18to hearken, named Rhoda.
And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
And they said unto her, 19Thou art mad. But 20she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, 21It is his angel.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were 22astonished.
But he, beckoning unto them withi the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto 23James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went 24into another place.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he 25examined the keepers, and commanded that they 26should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there 27abode.
¶And Herod 28was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus 29the king’s chamberlainj their friend, desired peace; because their country was 30nourished by the king's country.
And 31upon a set day Herod, 32arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon 33his throne, and made an oration unto them.
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because 34he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
¶Butk the word of God 35grew and multiplied.
And Barnabas and Saul 36returned from Jerusalem, when they had 37fulfilled their 38ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was 39Mark.