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, in the course of that season, Herod the king thrust forth his hands to harm some of them of the assembly,

2 And slew James the brother with a sword;

3 And, seeing that it was acceptable unto the Jews, he went on to apprehend Peter also (now they were the days of unleavened bread),

4 Whom also having seized, he put into prison, delivering him up unto four quaternions of soldiers, to be guarding him,intending, after the passover, to bring him up unto the people.

5 Peter, therefore, was kept in the prison; but, prayer, was, earnestly, being made by the assembly, unto God, concerning him.

6 And, when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that night, was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, guards, also, before the door, were keeping the prison.

7 And lo! a messenger of the Lord stood over him, and a light shone in the cell; and, smiting the side of Peter, he roused him up, sayingRise up quickly! And his chains fell off out of his hands.

8 And the messenger said unto himGird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto himThrow around thee thy mantle, and be following me.

9 And, coming out, he began following, and knew not that it was true which was coming about through means of the messenger; but supposed that, a vision, he was beholding.

10 And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.

11 And, Peter, coming to himself saidNow, know I, of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his messenger, and taken me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12 And, considering the matter, he came unto the house of Mary, the mother who was surnamed Mark, where a considerable number were gathered together and praying.

13 And, when he had knocked at the door of the porch, there came unto it a maiden to hearken, by name Rhoda;

14 And, recognizing the voice of Peter, by reason of her joy, she opened not the porch,but, running in, bare tidings that Peter was standing before the porch. But, they, unto her, saidThou art raving

15 She, however, kept on strongly declaring that, so, it was. But, they, were sayingIt is his, messenger.

16 And, Peter, continued knocking; and, opening, they saw him, and were amazed.

17 But, making a sign to them with his hand to hold their peace, he related to them how, the Lord, had brought, him, forth out of the prison; and he saidCarry tidings unto James and the brethren, as to these things. And, going out, he went his way unto some other place.

18 And, when it became day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what, then, Peter had become!

19 And, Herod, seeking after and not finding, him, having examined the guards, ordered them to be led away

20 Now he was bitterly hostile to them of Tyre and Zidon; but, with one accord, they came unto him, and, persuading Blastus, who was over the bed-chamber of the king, they were suing for peace; because their country was fed by the kings,

21 And, on an appointed day, Herod, putting on royal apparel, and seating himself upon the tribunal, proceeded to deliver an oration unto them.

22 And, the populace, began to shoutA gods, voice, and not, a mans!

23 And, instantly, there smote him, a messenger of the Lord, because he gave not the glory unto God; and, becoming worm-eaten, he expired.

24 And, the word of the Lord, went on growing and multiplying.

25 And, Barnabas and Saul, returned unto Jerusalem, fulfilling the ministering, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.