Acts 12
1Around that time, Herod the king laid hands on several members of the assembly to mistreat them. 2He executed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3Seeing that this was pleasing to the Judeans, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well (this happened during the Days of Unleavened Bread). 4After seizing him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. Herod’s intention was to bring him out before the people after the Passover. 5So Peter was being kept in the prison, but the assembly was intensely and fervently praying to God on his behalf.
6On the very night before Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards stood before the door watching over the prison. 7Suddenly, a messenger of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him, saying, "Rise up quickly!" And the chains fell from Peter's hands. 8Then the messenger said to him, "Gird your waist and put on your sandals." Peter did so. Then he told him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."
9Peter went out and followed him, but he did not realize that what was happening through the messenger was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. It opened for them of its own accord. They went out and walked the length of one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him. 11When Peter finally came to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his messenger and snatched me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Judean people were expecting."
12Once he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (the one called Mark), where a significant number of people had gathered and were praying. 13When he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14Recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overcome with joy that she did not open the gate, but ran inside and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway. 15They said to her, "You are raving mad!" But she kept insisting it was so. They kept saying, "It is his angel." 16Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. He said, "Report these things to James and to the brothers." Then he left and went to another place.
18When day broke, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod searched for him and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered them to be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20Now Herod was in a bitter feud with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him with one purpose; having won over Blastus, the king’s personal chamberlain, they sued for peace, because their country’s food supply depended on the king’s territory. 21On an appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, sat upon the judgment dais, and delivered a public address to them. 22The gathered populace began shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a human!" 23Immediately, a messenger of the Lord struck him down because he did not give the glory to God; he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24But the word of God continued to grow and multiply. 25Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after they had fulfilled their practical service, taking with them John, the one called Mark.