Acts

Acts 12 ©

1 King Herod persecuteth the Christians, killeth James, and imprisoneth Peter, who upon the prayers of the church is delivered by an angel. 20 Herod, in his pride assuming the glory due to God, is smitten by an angel, and dieth miserably. 24 After his death the word of God prospereth. 25 Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch.

1

NOW about that time Herod the king 1stretched forth his hands to a*vex certain of the church.

2

And he bkilled James the brother of John with the sword.

3

And cbecause he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take dPeter also. e(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4

And fwhen he had *apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four g*quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after 2*Easter to bring him forth to the people.

5

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but 3prayer was made hwithout ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6

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

7

And, behold, kthe angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. lAnd his chains fell off from his hands.

8

And the angel said unto him, *Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9

And he went out, and followed him; mand *wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but nthought he saw a vision.

10

When they were past the first and the second *ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; owhich opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

11

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, pthat the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath qdelivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all rthe expectation of the people of the Jews.

r v.3.
12

And when he had considered the thing, she came to the house of Mary the mother of tJohn, whose surname was uMark; where vmany were gathered together praying.

13

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a *damsel came 4to hearken, named Rhoda.

14

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.

15

And they said unto her, wThou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is xhis angel.

16

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

17

But he, ybeckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them zhow the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto aJames, and to the brethren. And bhe departed, and went into another place.

18

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

19

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and ccommanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to dCaesarea, and there abode.

20

¶And Herod 5was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus 6the king's *chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was enourished by the king's country.

21

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal *apparel, sat upon his fthrone, and made an oration unto them.

22

And the people gave a shout, saying,  gIt is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

23

And himmediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and *gave up the *ghost.

24

iBut the word of God grew and multiplied.

25

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their 7ministry, and took with them jJohn, whose surname was Mark.