Acts 12
1About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the assembly to mistreat them. 2He killed James, John's brother, with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. These were the days of Unleavened Bread. 4After seizing him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out before the people after Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the assembly was praying earnestly to God for him.
6On the night before Herod was to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards before the door kept watch over the prison. 7And look, an angel of the Lord stood there, and light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him, saying, “Get up quickly!” The chains fell from his hands. 8The angel said to him, “Belt your waist and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9He went out and followed, but he did not know that what the angel was doing was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10After passing the first guard post and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself. They went out and walked down one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's hand and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13When he knocked at the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran inside and announced that Peter stood at the gate. 15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16Meanwhile Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they saw him and were astonished. 17Motioning with his hand for them to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.
18When day came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19Herod searched for him and did not find him. After examining the guards, he ordered them to be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20He was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came to him with one accord, and after persuading Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on royal clothing, sat on the judgment seat, and addressed them publicly. 22The people kept shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a human being!” 23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give the glory to God. He was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem after completing their service, taking along John, who was called Mark.