1 Naquele tempo o rei Herodes mandou prender alguns da igreja para os maltratar.2 Ordenou que matassem à espada Tiago, irmão de João.3 Vendo que isto agradava aos judeus, fez ainda mais, mandou prender também a Pedro-e eram os dias dos pães asmos-4 e tendo-o feito prender, lançou-o no cárcere, entregando-o a quatro escoltas de quatro soldados cada uma para o guardarem, tencionando apresentá-lo ao povo depois da páscoa.5 Pedro, pois, estava guardado no cárcere; mas a igreja orava com insistência a Deus por ele.6 Quando Herodes estava para apresentá-lo, nessa mesma noite Pedro dormia entre dois soldados, acorrentado com duas cadeias, e sentinelas à porta guardavam o cárcere.7 Eis que sobreveio um anjo do Senhor, e uma luz brilhou na prisão; e ele, tocando o lado de Pedro, o despertou, dizendo: Levanta-te depressa. As cadeias caíram-lhe das mãos.8 O anjo acrescentou: Cinge-te e calça as tuas sandálias. Ele assim o fez. Disse-lhe mais: Cobre-te com a tua capa e segue-me.9 Pedro, saindo, seguia-o, e não sabia que era real o que se fazia por meio do anjo, mas julgava que era uma visão.10 Depois de terem passado a primeira e a segunda sentinela, chegaram ao portão de ferro que dá para a cidade, o qual se lhes abriu por si mesmo; e saindo, andaram uma rua, e logo o anjo o deixou.11 Pedro, tornando a si, disse: Agora sei verdadeiramente que o Senhor enviou o seu anjo e me livrou da mão de Herodes e de tudo o que esperava o povo judaico.12 Depois de refletir, foi à casa de Maria, mãe de João, que tem por sobrenome Marcos, onde muitas pessoas estavam congregadas e oravam.13 Quando ele bateu ao postigo do portão, veio uma criada chamada Rode ver quem era;14 reconhecendo a voz de Pedro, de gozo não abriu o portão, mas correndo para dentro, contou que Pedro estava ali.15 Eles lhe disseram: Estás louca. Ela, porém, asseverava que era ele. Diziam: É o seu anjo.16 Mas Pedro continuava a bater; quando abriram o portão, viram-no e ficaram atônitos.17 Mas ele, acenando-lhes com a mão que se calassem, contou-lhes como o Senhor o tirou do cárcere, e acrescentou: Anunciai isto a Tiago e aos irmãos. E saindo, retirou-se para outro lugar.18 Logo que amanheceu, houve grande alvoroço entre os soldados sobre o que teria acontecido a Pedro.19 Herodes, tendo-o procurado e não o achando, inquiriu as sentinelas e mandou que fossem justiçadas; e descendo da Judéia a Cesaréia, ali se demorou.20 Herodes estava irritado contra os de Tiro e de Sidom; porém eles de comum acordo se apresentaram a ele e, depois de alcançar o favor de Blasto, camarista do rei, pediam paz, porque era do país do rei que se abastecia o país deles.21 Num dia designado Herodes, vestido de traje real, sentado no trono, dirigia-lhes uma fala;22 e o povo clamava: É voz de um deus e não de um homem.23 No mesmo instante um anjo do Senhor o feriu, por ele não haver dado glória a Deus; e comido de vermes, expirou.24 Entretanto a palavra de Deus crescia e se multiplicava.25 Barnabé e Saulo, tendo acabado o seu serviço, voltaram de Jerusalém, levando consigo a João que tem por sobrenome 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.