Act 12 | ESV | STEP | About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church .

‏ Acts 12

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed ^aJames the brother of John ^bwith the sword, 3 and when he saw ^cthat it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ^dthe days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him ^ein prison, delivering him over to four ^fsquads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest ^gprayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter Is Rescued

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^hbound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, ⁱan angel of the Lord ^jstood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. ^kHe struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And ^lthe chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and ^mput on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but ⁿthought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. ^oIt opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter ^pcame to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that ^qthe Lord has sent his angel and ^rrescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of ^sJohn whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and ^twere praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, ^ua servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, ^vin her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is ^whis angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But ^xmotioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to ^yJames and to ^zthe brothers.” ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} Then he departed and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ^abordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

The Death of Herod

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and ^achaving persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, ^{▼▼That is, trusted personal attendant} they asked for peace, because ^aetheir country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately ^afan angel of the Lord struck him down, because ^aghe did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24 But ^ahthe word of God increased and multiplied.

25 ^aiAnd Barnabas and Saul returned from ^{▼▼Some manuscripts to} Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them ^akJohn, whose other name was Mark.