God's New Revelations

The Acts of the Apostles

Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 12 -

1
Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church so that he might mistreat them.
2
He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3
After he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. That was during the days of unleavened bread.
4
After arresting him, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of soldiers to guard him; he was intending to bring him to the people after the Passover.

The Rescue of Peter

5
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was made earnestly to God for him by those in the church.
6
The day before Herod was going to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7
Behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him and said, “Get up quickly.” Then his chains fell off from his hands.
8
The angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. The angel said to him, “Put on your outer garment and follow me.”
9
So Peter followed the angel and went out. He did not know that what was done by the angel was real. He thought he was seeing a vision.
10
After they had passed by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; it opened for them by itself. They went out and went down a street, and the angel left him right away.
11
When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”
12
After he realized this, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; many believers had gathered there and were praying.
13
When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14
When she recognized Peter’s voice, out of joy she failed to open the door; instead, she came running into the room; she reported that Peter was standing at the door.
15
So they said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
16
But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
17
Peter motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and he told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.
18
Now when it became day, there was no small excitement among the soldiers, regarding what had happened to Peter.
19
After Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

The Death of Herod

20
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They went to him together. They persuaded Blastus, the king’s assistant, to help them. Then they asked for peace, because their country received its food from the king’s country.
21
On a set day Herod dressed himself in royal clothing and sat on a throne; he made a speech to them.
22
The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; he was eaten by worms and died.
24
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25
After Barnabas and Saul completed their mission to Jerusalem, they returned from there; they took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
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.

The Rescue of Peter

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.

The Death of Herod

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

Footnotes

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