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12 Now about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hand to afflict some of the church,

And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (during the Days of Unleavened Bread.)

And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison. But earnest prayer was made to God for him by the church.

And the night when Herod wished to have him brought out to the people, Peter slept between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the guards before the door kept the prison.

And behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. And a light shined in the house. And he struck Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

And the Angel said to him, “Dress yourself. And put on your sandals.” And so, he did. Then he said to him, “Wrap your garment around you, and follow me.”

So Peter came out and followed him; and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he had seen a vision.

10 Now, after they had passed the first and the second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and passed through one street. And immediately the Angel departed from him.

11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his Angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.”

12 And as he considered it, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John (whose surname was Mark), where many were gathered together and prayed.

13 And when Peter knocked at the entry door, a girl named Rhoda came forth to answer it.

14 But when she recognized Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate. But with gladness, she ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15 But they said to her, “You are mad.” Still she kept affirming that it was so. Then they said, “It is his angel.”

16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened it, and saw him, they were astonished.

17 And with his hand he asked them to be silent. And he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go show these things to James and to the brothers.” And he departed and went into another place.

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

19 And when Herod had asked for and not found him, he examined the guards, and commanded them to be led away for punishment. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

20 Then Herod was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they all came to him with one mind. And having befriended Blastus, the King’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the King.

21 And upon an appointed day, Herod clothed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them.

22 And the people gave a shout, saying, “The voice of God, and not of man!”

23 But immediately the Angel of the Lord struck him - so that he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost - because he did not give glory to God.

24 And the word of God grew and multiplied.

25 So, when they had fulfilled their ministry, Barnabas and Saul took John with them (whose surname was Mark), and returned from Jerusalem.