The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

Nowe about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vexe certaine of the Church,

And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword.

And when he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.)

And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept, intending after the Passeouer to bring him foorth to the people.

The Rescue of Peter

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was made of ye Church vnto God for him.

And when Herod woulde haue brought him out vnto the people, the same night slept Peter betweene two souldiers, bound with two chaines, and the keepers before the doore, kept the prison.

And behold the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and a light shined in the house, and he smote Peter on the side, and raysed him vp, saying, Arise quickely. And his chaines fell off from his handes.

And the Angel saide vnto him, Girde thy selfe, and binde on thy sandales. And so he did. Then he said vnto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

So Peter came out and followed him, and knewe not that it was true, which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.

Nowe when they were past the first and the second watch, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them by it owne accord, and they went out, and passed through one streete, and by and by the Angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himselfe, he said, Nowe I know for a trueth, that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath deliuered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the wayting for of the people of the Iewes.

And as he considered the thing, he came to the house of Marie, the mother of Iohn, whose surname was Marke, where many were gathered together, and prayed.

And when Peter knocked at the entrie doore, a maide came foorth to hearken, named Rhode,

But when she knew Peters voyce, she opened not the entrie doore for gladnesse, but ranne in, and tolde howe Peter stood before the entrie.

But they said vnto her, Thou art mad. Yet she affirmed it constantly, that it was so. Then said they, It is his Angel.

But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened it, and sawe him, they were astonied.

And he beckened vnto them with the hand, to hold their peace, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he saide, Goe shewe these things vnto Iames and to the brethren: and he departed and went into an other place.

Nowe assoone as it was day, there was no small trouble among the souldiers, what was become of Peter.

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded them to be led to be punished. And he went downe from Iudea to Cesarea, and there abode.

The Death of Herod

Then Herod was angrie with them of Tyrus and Sidon, but they came all with one accord vnto him, and perswaded Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine, and they desired peace, because their countrey was nourished by the Kings land.

And vpon a day appointed, Herod arayed himselfe in royall apparell, and sate on the iudgement seate, and made an oration vnto them.

And the people gaue a shoute, saying, The voyce of God, and not of man.

But immediatly the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gaue not glorie vnto God, so that he was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the ghost.

And the worde of God grewe, and multiplied.

So Barnabas and Saul returned from Hierusalem, when they had fulfilled their office, and tooke with them Iohn, whose surname was Marke.

Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

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.

The Rescue of Peter

Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

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.

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.

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.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

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.

The Death of Herod

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.

On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul returned to

(a)

Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

Footnotes

(a)12:25 TR reads “from” instead of “to”