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 Aga sel ajal pistis kuningas Heroodes käe mõnede külge kogudusest, et neile paha teha.

2 Ja ta tappis mõõgaga Jakoobuse, Johannese venna.

3 Ja nähes, et see oli juutidele meelt mööda, võttis ta ette vangistada ka Peetruse. Sel ajal olid parajasti hapnemata leibade pühad.

4 Ta võttis tema kinni ja heitis ta vangitorni ning andis tema nelja neljamehelise sõjameeste salga kätte hoida, kavatsedes teda pärast paasapüha tuua rahva ette.

5 Nii peeti siis Peetrust vangis, aga kogudus tegi väsimata palvet Jumala poole tema eest.

6 Aga kui Heroodes tahtis teda tuua kohtu ette, magas Peetrus sel ööl kahe sõjamehe vahel kahe ahelaga seotult, ja vahid ukse ees valvasid vangihoonet.

7 Ja vaata, Issanda Ingel seisis seal ja valgus paistis seal toas! Ja Ingel tõukas Peetruse külge, äratas ta üles ning ütles: „Tõuse usinasti üles!" Ja ta ahelad langesid käte ümbert maha.

8 Ja Ingel ütles talle: „Pane vöö vööle ja kingad jalga!" Tema tegi nõnda. Veel ta ütles talle: „Pane kuub selga ja tule mu järel!"

9 Ja ta tuli välja ja läks ta järele ega teadnud, et on ilmsi see, mis sünnib ingli kaudu, vaid mõtles nägevat nägemust.

10 Aga kui nad jõudsid mööda esimesest ja teisest vahist, tulid nad raudvärava ette, mis viis linna. See läks iseenesest neile lahti ja nad tulid välja ja läksid edasi üht tänavat mööda. Ja Ingel lahkus äkitselt temast.

11 Kui siis Peetrus teadlikuks sai, ütles ta: „Nüüd ma tean tõesti, et Issand on läkitanud Oma Ingli ja on mind päästnud Heroodese käest ja kõigest, mida juuda rahvas ootas!"

12 Ja märgates, kus ta on, tuli ta Maarja, Johannese, teise nimega Markuse ema maja juurde, kuhu mitmed olid kokku tulnud palvetama.

13 Ent kui Peetrus koputas jalgväravale, tuli tüdruk, nimega Roode, välja kuulatama.

14 Kui ta Peetruse hääle ära tundis, ei teinud ta väravat lahti rõõmu pärast, vaid jooksis sisse ja teatas, et Peetrus värava taga seisvat.

15 Nemad ütlesid talle: „Sa jampsid!" Aga tema tunnistas kindlasti, et see on nõnda. Nad ütlesid: „See on tema Ingel!"

16 Aga Peetrus jäi veel koputama. Ja kui nad avasid, nägid nad teda ja ehmusid.

17 Siis ta viitas käega neile, et nad jääksid vait, ja jutustas neile, kuidas Issand ta oli vangihoonest välja viinud, ning ütles: „Kuulutage seda Jakoobusele ja vendadele!" Ja ta väljus ning läks teise paika.

18 Aga kui valgeks läks, ei olnud sõjameestel pisut muret sellest, mis Peetrusega oli sündinud.

19 Ja kui Heroodes teda otsis ega leidnud, laskis ta valvuritele kohut mõista ja käskis nad ära hukata. Ise ta läks siis Juudamaalt Kaisareasse ja viibis seal.

20 Heroodes aga kandis viha tüüroslaste ja siidonlaste vastu. Need tulid ühel meelel tema juurde ja meelitasid Blastust, kuninga kambriülemat, ja palusid rahu. Sest nende maa sai oma toiduse kuninga maast.

21 Siis pani Heroodes määratud päeval kuninglikud riided selga ja istus kohtujärjele ja pidas neile kõnet;

22 aga rahvas kisendas: „See on Jumala, aga mitte inimese hääl!"

23 Aga sedamaid lõi teda Issanda Ingel, sest et ta ei andnud au Jumalale; ja ussid sõid ta ära ja ta heitis hinge.

24 Aga Jumala sõna kasvas ja levis.

25 Ja Barnabas ja Saulus tulid tagasi Jeruusalemmast, kui nad olid täitnud oma ülesande, ning võtsid enestega ühes ka Johannese, keda hüüti lisanimega Markuseks.