Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 12
James Is Killed and Peter Is Imprisoned
About that time King Herod began harming some members of the church. He killed James, John’s brother, with the sword. When he saw that this pleased some of the Jewish people, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, Herod put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. He intended to bring him out to the people after Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying earnestly to God for him.
Peter Is Rescued from Prison
On the night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards at the door watched the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, woke him, and said, “Get up quickly!” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel told him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter followed him out but did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself. They went out and walked along one street, and immediately the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I truly know that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s hand and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
Peter Comes to the Praying Community
When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John called Mark, where many people were gathered and praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized Peter’s voice, but because of her joy she did not open the gate. Instead, she ran inside and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They told her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting it was true. They said, “It is his angel.” Meanwhile Peter kept knocking. When they opened the gate and saw him, they were astonished. He motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Then he said, “Tell these things to James and the brothers and sisters.” Afterward he left and went to another place. When morning came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. Herod searched for him but could not find him. After questioning the guards, he ordered them to be led away for execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
Herod Dies
Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came to him together, and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace because their region depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal clothing, sat on the judgment seat, and delivered a public speech to them. The crowd shouted, “The voice of a god, not a human!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God. He was eaten by worms and died.
God’s Word Continues to Grow
But God’s word continued to grow and multiply. Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after completing their service, taking with them John who was called Mark.