Shared Word Translation

Acts 12

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm them. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

And seizing him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was being kept in the prison, but earnest prayer for him was being made to God by the church.

Peter Delivered from Prison

And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were keeping the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the cell; and striking Peter on the side, he raised him, saying, “Rise quickly.” And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals.” And he did so. And he says to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And going out, he was following him and did not know that what was happening through the angel was real, but he was thinking that he was seeing a vision.

And passing through the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them by itself, and going out, they went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know truly that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

Peter Visits the Believers

And realizing this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. And recognizing Peter’s voice, because of joy she did not open the gate, but running in, she reported that Peter was standing before the gate.

But they said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so. And they were saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking, and opening, they saw him and were astonished.

But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” And going out, he went to another place.

Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what then had become of Peter. And Herod, having searched for him and not finding him, examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

The Death of Herod

Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they came to him with one accord, and persuading Blastus, the one over the king’s bedchamber, they were asking for peace, because their region was fed from the king’s country.

And on an appointed day Herod, having put on royal clothing and sitting on the throne, was delivering an address to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give the glory to God, and being eaten by worms, he breathed his last.

The Word Continues to Spread

But the word of God was increasing and multiplying. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, taking with them John, who is called Mark.