1 OR intorno a quel tempo il re Erode mise le mani a straziare alcuni di que’ della chiesa.

2 E fece morir con la spada Giacomo, fratel di Giovanni.

3 E veggendo che ciò era grato a’ Giudei, aggiunse di pigliare ancora Pietro or erano i giorni degli azzimi.

4 E presolo, lo mise in prigione, dandolo a guardare a quattro mute di soldati di quattro l’una; volendone, dopo la Pasqua, dare uno spettacolo al popolo

5 Pietro adunque era guardato nella prigione; ma continue orazioni erano fatte della chiesa per lui a Dio.

6 Or la notte avanti che Erode ne facesse un pubblico spettacolo, Pietro dormiva in mezzo di due soldati, legato di due catene; e le guardie davanti alla porta guardavano la prigione.

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

8 E l’angelo gli disse: Cingiti, e legati le scarpe. Ed egli fece così. Poi gli disse: Mettiti la tua veste attorno, e seguitami.

9 Pietro adunque, essendo uscito, lo seguitava, e non sapeva che fosse vero quel che si faceva dall’angelo; anzi pensava vedere una visione.

10 Ora, com’ebbero passata la prima e la seconda guardia, vennero alla porta di ferro che conduce alla città, la qual da sè stessa si aperse loro; ed essendo usciti, passarono una strada, e in quello stante l’angelo si dipartì da lui.

11 E Pietro, ritornato in sè, disse: Ora per certo conosco, che il Signore ha mandato il suo angelo, e mi ha liberato di man d’Erode, e di tutta l’aspettazion del popolo de’ Guidei.

12 E considerando la cosa, venne in casa di Maria, madre di Giovanni, soprannominato Marco, ove molti fratelli erano raunati, ed oravano.

13 Ed avendo Pietro picchiato all’uscio dell’antiporto, una fanticella, chiamata per nome Rode, si accostò chetamente per sottascoltare.

14 E, riconosciuta la voce di Pietro, per l’allegrezza non aperse la porta; anzi, corse dentro, e rapportò che Pietro stava davanti all’antiporto.

15 Ma essi le dissero: Tu farnetichi. Ed ella pure affermava che così era. Ed essi dicevano: Egli è il suo angelo.

16 Or Pietro continuava a picchiare. Ed essi, avendogli aperto, lo videro, e sbigottirono.

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

18 Ora, fattosi giorno, vi fu non piccol turbamento fra i soldati, che cosa Pietro fosse divenuto.

19 Ed Erode, ricercatolo, e non avendolo trovato, dopo avere esaminate le guardie, comandò che fosser menate al supplicio. Poi discese di Giudea in Cesarea, e quivi dimorò alcun tempo

20 Or Erode era indegnato contro a’ Tirii, e Sidonii, ed avea nell’animo di far lor guerra; ma essi di pari consentimento si presentarono a lui; e, persuaso Blasto, cameriere del re, chiedevano pace; perciocchè il lor paese era nudrito di quel del re.

21 E in un certo giorno assegnato, Erode, vestito d’una vesta reale, e sedendo sopra il tribunale, arringava loro.

22 E il popolo gli fece delle acclamazioni, dicendo: Voce di Dio, e non d’uomo.

23 E in quello stante un angelo del Signore lo percosse, perciocchè non avea data gloria a Dio; e morì, roso da’ vermini.

24 Ora la parola di Dio cresceva, e moltiplicava.

25 E Barnaba, e Saulo, compiuto il servigio, ritornarono di Gerusalemme in Antiochia, avendo preso ancora seco Giovanni soprannominato Marco

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 Judæa to Cæsarea, 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.