The Acts of the Apostles

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- Kapitel 12 -

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

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

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

So 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.

The Rescue of Peter

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

And 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.

And 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.

Then 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.”(b)

And 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.

And 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.

And 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.”

And 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.

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

And 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.

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

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

But 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.

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

And 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.

The Death of Herod

Now 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.

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

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

And 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.

But the word of the Lord was increasing and multiplying.

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

Fußnoten

(a)12:3 Azymes:The festival of the unleavened bread, or the pasch, which answers to our Easter.(Challoner)

(b)12:8 The word ‘caligas’ is ‘boots,’ not ‘sandals.’(Conte)

Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

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.

The Rescue of Peter

Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

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.

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.

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.

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

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.

The Death of Herod

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.

On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul returned to

(a)

Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

Fußnoten

(a)12:25 TR reads “from” instead of “to”