| Chapter 12
|
| 1 | Now about
that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the
church. |
| 2 | And he killed
James the brother of John with the sword. |
| 3 | And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) |
| 4 | And when he had apprehended him,
he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep
him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. |
| 5 | Peter therefore was kept in prison: but
prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. |
| 6 | And when Herod would have brought
him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with
two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. |
| 7 | And, behold, the 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. And 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; and
wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought 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; which 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, that the LORD hath sent
his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the
expectation of the people of the Jews. |
| 12 | And when he had considered the thing, he came to the
house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were
gathered together praying. |
| 13
| And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to
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, Thou art mad. But she
constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. |
| 16 | But Peter continued
knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were
astonished. |
| 17 | But he,
beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things
unto James, and to the brethren. And he 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 commanded
that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and
there abode. |
| 20 | And
Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one
accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend,
desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. |
| 21 | And upon a set day Herod,
arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto
them. |
| 22 | And the people
gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. |
| 23 | And immediately 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 |
But the word of God grew and multiplied. |
| 25 | And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when
they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was
Mark. |
