1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off his hands. 8 The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting." 12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

15 They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel." 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22 The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

1 At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt,2 and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.3 And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were the days of unleavened bread:)4 whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.6 And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison.7 And lo, an angel of {the} Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.8 And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.9 And going forth he followed {him} and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.10 And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.11 And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that {the} Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12 And having become clearly conscious {in himself}, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying.13 And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda;14 and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry.15 And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.16 But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him and were astonished.17 And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related {to them} how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.18 And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.19 And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded {them} to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed {there}.20 And he was in bitter hostility with {the} Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's.21 And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat {of honour}, Herod made a public oration to them.22 And the people cried out, A god's voice and not a man's.23 And immediately an angel of {the} Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms.24 But the word of God grew and spread itself.25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service {entrusted to them}, taking also with them John, surnamed Mark.