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.

1 Aga sel ajal pistis kuningas Heroodes käe mõnede külge kogudusest, et neile paha teha.

2 Ja ta tappis mõõgaga Jakoobuse, Johannese venna.

3 Ja nähes, et see oli juutidele meelt mööda, võttis ta ette vangistada ka Peetruse. Sel ajal olid parajasti hapnemata leibade pühad.

4 Ta võttis tema kinni ja heitis ta vangitorni ning andis tema nelja neljamehelise sõjameeste salga kätte hoida, kavatsedes teda pärast paasapüha tuua rahva ette.

5 Nii peeti siis Peetrust vangis, aga kogudus tegi väsimata palvet Jumala poole tema eest.

6 Aga kui Heroodes tahtis teda tuua kohtu ette, magas Peetrus sel ööl kahe sõjamehe vahel kahe ahelaga seotult, ja vahid ukse ees valvasid vangihoonet.

7 Ja vaata, Issanda Ingel seisis seal ja valgus paistis seal toas! Ja Ingel tõukas Peetruse külge, äratas ta üles ning ütles: „Tõuse usinasti üles!" Ja ta ahelad langesid käte ümbert maha.

8 Ja Ingel ütles talle: „Pane vöö vööle ja kingad jalga!" Tema tegi nõnda. Veel ta ütles talle: „Pane kuub selga ja tule mu järel!"

9 Ja ta tuli välja ja läks ta järele ega teadnud, et on ilmsi see, mis sünnib ingli kaudu, vaid mõtles nägevat nägemust.

10 Aga kui nad jõudsid mööda esimesest ja teisest vahist, tulid nad raudvärava ette, mis viis linna. See läks iseenesest neile lahti ja nad tulid välja ja läksid edasi üht tänavat mööda. Ja Ingel lahkus äkitselt temast.

11 Kui siis Peetrus teadlikuks sai, ütles ta: „Nüüd ma tean tõesti, et Issand on läkitanud Oma Ingli ja on mind päästnud Heroodese käest ja kõigest, mida juuda rahvas ootas!"

12 Ja märgates, kus ta on, tuli ta Maarja, Johannese, teise nimega Markuse ema maja juurde, kuhu mitmed olid kokku tulnud palvetama.

13 Ent kui Peetrus koputas jalgväravale, tuli tüdruk, nimega Roode, välja kuulatama.

14 Kui ta Peetruse hääle ära tundis, ei teinud ta väravat lahti rõõmu pärast, vaid jooksis sisse ja teatas, et Peetrus värava taga seisvat.

15 Nemad ütlesid talle: „Sa jampsid!" Aga tema tunnistas kindlasti, et see on nõnda. Nad ütlesid: „See on tema Ingel!"

16 Aga Peetrus jäi veel koputama. Ja kui nad avasid, nägid nad teda ja ehmusid.

17 Siis ta viitas käega neile, et nad jääksid vait, ja jutustas neile, kuidas Issand ta oli vangihoonest välja viinud, ning ütles: „Kuulutage seda Jakoobusele ja vendadele!" Ja ta väljus ning läks teise paika.

18 Aga kui valgeks läks, ei olnud sõjameestel pisut muret sellest, mis Peetrusega oli sündinud.

19 Ja kui Heroodes teda otsis ega leidnud, laskis ta valvuritele kohut mõista ja käskis nad ära hukata. Ise ta läks siis Juudamaalt Kaisareasse ja viibis seal.

20 Heroodes aga kandis viha tüüroslaste ja siidonlaste vastu. Need tulid ühel meelel tema juurde ja meelitasid Blastust, kuninga kambriülemat, ja palusid rahu. Sest nende maa sai oma toiduse kuninga maast.

21 Siis pani Heroodes määratud päeval kuninglikud riided selga ja istus kohtujärjele ja pidas neile kõnet;

22 aga rahvas kisendas: „See on Jumala, aga mitte inimese hääl!"

23 Aga sedamaid lõi teda Issanda Ingel, sest et ta ei andnud au Jumalale; ja ussid sõid ta ära ja ta heitis hinge.

24 Aga Jumala sõna kasvas ja levis.

25 Ja Barnabas ja Saulus tulid tagasi Jeruusalemmast, kui nad olid täitnud oma ülesande, ning võtsid enestega ühes ka Johannese, keda hüüti lisanimega Markuseks.