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 At that time Herod the king mistreated those of the congregation.2 He killed James the brother of John with a sword.3 He saw that it pleased the Jews so he captured Peter also. This happened during the feast of unleavened bread.4 When he apprehended him, he put him in prison. He turned him over to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. After Passover he would be presented to the people.5 Peter was kept in prison. Prayer was made without ceasing by the congregation to God for him.6 It was the night before Herod was to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains. Sentries stood guard at the prison door.7 Suddenly God’s angel came to him. A light shined in the prison. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up saying: »Get up quickly.« And his chains fell off of his hands.8 The angel said: »Dress yourself and put on sandals. Put on your coat and follow me.« So Peter did as he was told.9 Peter followed him out of the prison. He did not know what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he saw a vision.10 They went past the first and second guard to the Iron Gate that leads to the city. The gate opened and went out on the street. The angel then departed from him.11 Peter came to himself and he said: »Now I know for sure that God sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jews.«12 After he thought about what happened he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark. Many were gathered there to pray.13 Peter knocked on the door and a young woman named Rhoda answered.14 When she recognized Peter’s voice she was so overjoyed she ran back into the house to tell others he was there. She forgot to open the door for him.15 They said to her: »You are mad.« But she kept insisting that it was so. Then they said: »It must be his angel.«16 But Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.17 Peter motioned for them to be quiet. Then he told them how God brought him out of the prison. He said: »Tell James and the brothers.« Then he went away to another place.18 When day came the soldiers were disturbed by what happened to Peter.19 Herod had a thorough search made for him and could not find him. He cross examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea to stay for a while.20 Herod highly disagreed with them at Tyre and Sidon. But they finally came to an agreement. They secured the support of Blastus a trusted personal servant of the king. They desired peace because their country was supported by the king’s country.21 Dressed in royal apparel, Herod delivered a public address to the people on a special day.22 The people shouted: »It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.«23 Immediately the angel of God killed him, because he did not give God the glory. He was eaten by worms and died.24 The word of God increased and spread.25 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission. They took with them John, surnamed Mark.