1 Or intorno a quel tempo, il re Erode mise mano a maltrattare alcuni della chiesa;

2 e fece morir per la spada Giacomo, fratello di Giovanni.

3 E vedendo che ciò era grato ai Giudei, continuo e fece arrestare anche Pietro. Or erano i giorni degli azzimi.

4 E presolo, lo mise in prigione, dandolo in guardia a quattro mute di soldati di quattro l’una; perché, dopo la Pasqua, voleva farlo comparire dinanzi al popolo.

5 Pietro dunque era custodito nella prigione; ma fervide preghiere eran fatte dalla chiesa a Dio per lui.

6 Or quando Erode stava per farlo comparire, la notte prima, Pietro stava dormendo in mezzo a due soldati, legato con due catene; e le guardie davanti alla porta custodivano la prigione.

7 Ed ecco, un angelo del Signore sopraggiunse, e una luce risplendé nella cella; e l’angelo, percosso il fianco a Pietro, lo svegliò, dicendo: Lèvati prestamente. E le catene gli caddero dalle mani.

8 E l’angelo disse: Cingiti, e lègati i sandali. E Pietro fece così. Poi gli disse: Mettiti il mantello, e seguimi.

9 Ed egli, uscito, lo seguiva, non sapendo che fosse vero quel che avveniva per mezzo dell’angelo, ma pensando di avere una visione.

10 Or com’ebbero passata la prima e la seconda guardia, vennero alla porta di ferro che mette in città, la quale si aperse loro da sé; ed essendo usciti, s’inoltrarono per una strada: e in quell’istante l’angelo si partì da lui.

11 E Pietro, rientrato in sé, disse: Ora conosco per certo che il Signore ha mandato il suo angelo e mi ha liberato dalla mano di Erode e da tutta l’aspettazione del popolo dei Giudei.

12 E considerando la cosa, venne alla casa di Maria, madre di Giovanni soprannominato Marco, dove molti fratelli stavano raunati e pregavano.

13 E avendo Pietro picchiato all’uscio del vestibolo, una serva, chiamata Rode venne ad ascoltare;

14 e riconosciuta la voce di Pietro, per l’allegrezza non aprì l’uscio, ma corse dentro ad annunziare che ietro stava davanti alla porta.

15 E quelli le dissero: Tu sei pazza! Ma ella asseverava che era così. Ed essi dicevano: E’ il suo angelo.

16 Ma Pietro continuava a picchiare, e quand’ebbero aperto, lo videro e stupirono.

17 Ma egli, fatto lor cenno con la mano che tacessero, raccontò loro in qual modo il Signore l’avea tratto fuor della prigione. Poi disse: Fate sapere queste cose a Giacomo ed ai fratelli. Ed essendo uscito, se ne andò in un altro luogo.

18 Or, fattosi giorno, vi fu non piccol turbamento fra i soldati, perché non sapevano che cosa fosse avvenuto di Pietro.

19 Ed Erode, cercatolo, e non avendolo trovato, esaminate le guardie, comandò che fosser menate al supplizio. Poi, sceso di Giudea a Cesarea, vi si trattenne.

20 Or Erode era fortemente adirato contro i Tiri e i Sidoni; ma essi di pari consentimento si presentarono a lui; e guadagnato il favore di Blasto, ciambellano del re, chiesero pace, perché il loro paese traeva i viveri dal paese del re.

21 Nel giorno fissato, Erode, indossato l’abito reale, e postosi a sedere sul trono, li arringava pubblicamente.

22 E il popolo si mise a gridare: Voce d’un dio, e non d’un uomo!

23 In quell’istante, un angelo del Signore lo percosse, perché non avea dato a Dio la gloria; e morì, roso dai vermi.

24 Ma la parola di Dio progrediva e si spandeva di più in più.

25 E Barnaba e Saulo, compiuta la loro missione, tornarono da Gerusalemme, prendendo seco Giovanni soprannominato Marco.

1 At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt,

2 and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.

3 And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were the days of unleavened bread:)

4 whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.

5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.

6 And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison.

7 And lo, an angel of {the} Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.

8 And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.

9 And going forth he followed {him} and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.

10 And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.

11 And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that {the} Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12 And having become clearly conscious {in himself}, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying.

13 And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda;

14 and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry.

15 And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.

16 But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him and were astonished.

17 And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related {to them} how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.

18 And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.

19 And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded {them} to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed {there}.

20 And he was in bitter hostility with {the} Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's.

21 And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat {of honour}, Herod made a public oration to them.

22 And the people cried out, A god's voice and not a man's.

23 And immediately an angel of {the} Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms.

24 But the word of God grew and spread itself.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service {entrusted to them}, taking also with them John, surnamed Mark.