12:1And at the same time Herod the king sent out his hands, to afflict some from the church. 12:2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 12:3And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he went on to seize Peter too. 12:3And they were the days of the Unleavened Bread. 12:4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four groups of four soldiers to be guarded, wanting after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 12:5And Peter indeed was being kept in prison. 12:5But prayer was being made without ceasing by the church to God for him. 12:6But when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door were guarding the prison.
12:7And look, an angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the dwelling: and Peter's side having been struck, he woke him, saying: "Rise quickly." 12:7And the chains fell from his hands. 12:8And the angel said to him: "Gird yourself, and put on your sandals." 12:8And he did so. 12:8And he said to him: "Wrap your garment around you, and follow me." 12:9And going out he was following him, and did not know that what was being done through the angel was true: but he was supposing that he was seeing a vision. 12:10And passing the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate, which leads into the city: which was opened to them of its own accord.
12:10And going out they went forward one street: and straightaway the angel departed from him. 12:11And Peter, coming back to himself, said: "Now I know truly that the Lord has sent his angel, and snatched me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." 12:12And considering it he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered, and praying. 12:13And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a girl came forward to listen, by name Rhoda. 12:14And as she recognized the voice of Peter, for joy she did not open the gate, but running inside she announced that Peter was standing before the gate.
12:15But they said to her: "You are mad." 12:15But she was affirming that it was so. 12:15But they were saying: "It is his angel." 12:16But Peter was persisting in knocking. 12:16And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astounded. 12:17But beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had led him out of the prison, and said: "Report these things to James and to the brothers." 12:17And having gone out he went away to another place. 12:18And when day had come, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what ever had become of Peter. 12:19And Herod, when he had searched for him and had not found him, an inquiry having been made of the guards, ordered them to be led away: and going down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.
12:20Now he was angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. 12:20But they came with one mind to him, and, Blastus having been persuaded, who was over the king's bedchamber, they were asking for peace, because their regions were fed by him. 12:21And on an appointed day Herod, clothed in royal clothing, sat on the tribunal, and was making a speech to them. 12:22And the people were shouting: "The voices of a god, and not of a man." 12:23But at once an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honour to God: and eaten away by worms, he breathed his last. 12:24But the word of the Lord was growing, and being multiplied.
12:25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, their ministry having been completed, John having been taken with them, who was surnamed Mark.