1 Por aquele tempo, o rei Herodes mandou prender alguns da igreja para os maltratar. 2 Mandou matar à espada Tiago, irmão de João. 3 Vendo que isto agradava aos judeus, prosseguiu, mandando prender também Pedro. E eram os dias dos pães sem fermento. 4 Depois de prendê-lo, lançou-o na prisão, entregando-o a quatro escoltas de quatro soldados cada uma, para o guardarem. A intenção de Herodes era apresentá-lo ao povo depois da Páscoa. 5 E assim Pedro estava guardado na prisão; mas havia oração incessante a Deus por parte da igreja a favor dele.

6 Na noite anterior ao dia em que Herodes ia apresentá-lo ao povo, Pedro dormia entre dois soldados, preso com duas correntes. Sentinelas, junto à porta, guardavam a prisão. 7 Eis, porém, que sobreveio um anjo do Senhor, e uma luz iluminou a prisão. O anjo tocou no lado de Pedro e o despertou, dizendo:

— Levante-se depressa!

Então as correntes caíram das mãos dele. 8 E o anjo continuou:

— Coloque o cinto e calce as sandálias.

E ele assim o fez.

O anjo lhe disse mais:

— Ponha a capa e siga-me.

9 Então, saindo, Pedro o seguia, não sabendo que era real o que estava sendo feito pelo anjo; ele pensava que era uma visão. 10 Depois de terem passado a primeira e a segunda sentinela, chegaram ao portão de ferro que dava para a cidade, o qual se abriu automaticamente; e, saindo, enveredaram por uma rua, e logo adiante o anjo se afastou dele. 11 Então Pedro, caindo em si, disse:

— Agora sei que, de fato, o Senhor enviou o seu anjo e me livrou da mão de Herodes e de toda a expectativa do povo judeu.

12 Ao se dar conta disso, Pedro resolveu ir à casa de Maria, mãe de João, também chamado Marcos, onde muitas pessoas estavam congregadas e oravam. 13 Quando ele bateu à porta da frente, uma empregada, chamada Rode, foi ver quem era. 14 Reconhecendo a voz de Pedro, ficou tão alegre que nem o fez entrar, mas voltou correndo para anunciar que Pedro estava à porta. 15 Então os outros disseram:

— Você ficou louca!

Ela, porém, persistia em afirmar que era verdade. Então disseram:

— É o anjo dele.

16 Enquanto isso, Pedro continuava batendo. Quando abriram a porta, viram-no e ficaram admirados. 17 Ele, porém, fazendo-lhes sinal com a mão para que se calassem, contou-lhes como o Senhor o tinha tirado da prisão. E acrescentou:

— Anunciem isto a Tiago e aos irmãos.

E, saindo, foi para outro lugar.

18 Quando amanheceu, houve grande alvoroço entre os soldados sobre o que teria acontecido com Pedro. 19 Herodes, tendo-o procurado e não o achando, submetendo as sentinelas a interrogatório, ordenou que se aplicasse a pena de morte. E, descendo da Judeia para Cesareia, Herodes passou ali algum tempo.

20 Havia uma séria divergência entre Herodes e os moradores de Tiro e de Sidom. Estes, porém, de comum acordo, se apresentaram a ele e, depois de obter o apoio de Blasto, que era assessor do rei, pediram paz, porque a terra deles recebia alimentos do país do rei. 21 Em dia designado, Herodes, vestido de traje real, assentado no trono, dirigiu-lhes a palavra. 22 E o povo gritava:

— É voz de um deus, e não de um homem!

23 No mesmo instante, um anjo do Senhor feriu Herodes, por ele não haver dado glória a Deus; e, comido de vermes, morreu.

24 Entretanto, a palavra de Deus crescia e se multiplicava.

25 Barnabé e Saulo, cumprida a sua missão, voltaram de Jerusalém, trazendo consigo João, também chamado Marcos.

1 Now about that time Herod the king threw on hands to harm some of those from the church.2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.3 And after seeing that it was pleasing the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also (and those were the days of unleavened bread),4 whom, having also arrested, he put in prison, having delivered to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.5 Indeed therefore Peter was kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was being made by the church to God for him.6 And when Herod was about to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two chains. And guards in front of the door guarded the prison.7 And behold, an agent of Lord stood near, and light shone in the room. And after striking the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, Get up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8 And the agent said to him, Gird thyself, and tie on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Throw on thy garment, and follow me.9 And after going out, he followed him. And he had not seen that the thing happening by the heavenly agent was true, but presumed to see a vision.10 And when they passed a first and a second watch, they came to the iron gate, the one leading to the city, which opened spontaneously to them. And after going out, they advanced one street. And straightaway the agent withdrew from h11 And when Peter came to himself, he said, Now I know truly, that Lord dispatched his agent and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12 And having realized it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a considerable were gathered and praying.13 And when Peter knocked the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to hearken.14 And after recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but having ran in, she reported Peter was standing in front of the gate.15 And they said to her, Thou are mad. But she insisted to have it so. But they said, It is his heavenly agent.16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him, and were astonished.17 But after motioning to them with the hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison. And he said, Report these things to James, and to the brothers. And having departed, he went to a different pl18 But having become day, there was no small stir among the soldiers what then became of Peter.19 And Herod, who sought for him, and not having found, having examined the guards, he commanded them to be led away. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he remained there.20 Now Herod was angry at the Tyrians and Sidonians. But they came with one accord to him, and, having persuaded Blastus the man over the king's bedchamber, they requested peace, because their country was sustained from the monarchy.21 And at a set day Herod, having arrayed himself in royal apparel, and having sat on the tribunal, he made an oration to them.22 And the populace shouted, The voice of a god, and not of a man.23 And immediately an agent of Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And after becoming worm-eaten, he expired.24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.25 And Barnabas and Saul turned back in Jerusalem after fulfilling the service, also having taken along John who was surnamed Mark.