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King Herod puts Peter in prison

12 At that time, King Herod took hold of some of the group of believers in Jerusalem. He wanted to cause them to suffer. ² He sent his soldiers to cut off James's head. James was John's brother. ^{[ a ]}

³ King Herod saw that the Jews were happy because he had killed James. So he sent his soldiers to take hold of Peter too. This happened during the Festival of Flat Bread. ^{[ b ]}

⁴ After the soldiers caught Peter, they put him in prison. While he was in prison, four different groups of soldiers guarded him. There were four soldiers in each group. ^{[ c ]} Herod wanted to judge Peter in front of everybody. After the Passover festival had finished, he would bring Peter out of the prison to do this.

⁵ So Herod kept Peter in prison. But during that time, the group of believers prayed that God would help Peter.

Peter walks out of the prison

⁶ It was the night before King Herod wanted to bring Peter out of the prison and judge him. The soldiers had tied Peter to themselves with chains. So Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Some other soldiers were guarding the doors of the prison. ⁷ Then, an angel from the Lord God suddenly appeared in the prison. A bright light shone in the room where Peter was sleeping. The angel touched Peter's shoulder so that Peter woke up. He said to Peter, ‘Hurry! Stand up!’ Immediately the chains fell off Peter's hands.

⁸ Then the angel said to him, ‘Put on your clothes and your shoes.’ Peter did what the angel told him to do. Then the angel said, ‘Now put on your coat and follow me.’ ⁹ So Peter followed the angel out of the prison. He was not sure that all these things were really happening to him. He thought that he might be dreaming. ¹⁰ Peter and the angel walked past the first group of soldiers in the prison. Then they walked past the second group of soldiers. After that, they came to the big metal gate in the wall of the prison. The city was outside this gate. The gate opened by itself in front of them. So Peter and the angel went out of the prison through the gate. They walked together along one street and then, suddenly, the angel went away.

¹¹ Then Peter understood what had happened. He said to himself, ‘Now I know that these things really have happened to me. The Lord God sent one of his angels to rescue me from Herod's power. The Jewish leaders wanted Herod to cause me to suffer. But God has saved me from those bad things.’

¹² When Peter realized what God had done for him, he went to Mary's house. She was the mother of John Mark. Many people were meeting together in her house. They were praying to God. ^{[ d ]}

¹³ Peter knocked on the outside door of the house. A servant girl called Rhoda came to the door. ¹⁴ She recognized Peter's voice and she was very happy. But she did not open the door. Instead, she ran back into the house and she said to all the people there, ‘Peter is standing outside the door!’

¹⁵ The people in the house said to her, ‘You are crazy.’ But she told them again that Peter really was there. So then they said, ‘It is not him, but it is his angel.’ ^{[ e ]}

¹⁶ While all this was happening, Peter was still knocking at the door. Then someone went and opened the door. They were all very surprised when they saw him there. ¹⁷ Peter raised his hand towards them so that they would all be quiet. Then he explained to them how the Lord God had brought him out of the prison. He said to them, ‘Tell James and all the other believers what has happened to me.’ ^{[ f ]} Then he left the house and he went away to another place.

¹⁸ When morning arrived, there was a lot of trouble at the prison. The soldiers did not understand what had happened to Peter. ¹⁹ When Herod knew about it, he said to the soldiers, ‘Go and look for Peter!’ But they could not find him anywhere. Herod then asked the soldiers who guarded the prison some questions. They could not explain what had happened. So Herod commanded other soldiers to cut off their heads.

After this happened, Herod left Judea. He went to Caesarea and he stayed there for some time.

King Herod dies

²⁰ At that time, King Herod was angry with the people who lived in Tyre and Sidon. A group of men from these cities went together to speak to Herod about the problem. A man called Blastus was an important servant in King Herod's house. The group of men said to Blastus, ‘Please help us when we speak to King Herod.’ Then they went and they said to Herod, ‘Please stop being angry with our people. We want to be friends again.’ They said this because they needed to buy food in King Herod's country. ^{[ g ]}

²¹ Herod decided on which day he would meet with them. He put on his beautiful clothes and he sat in his special seat as king. Then he spoke his message to all the people. ²² When he spoke, the people shouted, ‘This is not a man who is speaking to us. This is the voice of a god!’

²³ Herod let the people praise him, instead of God. So, immediately, an angel of the Lord God caused him to become very ill. Worms ate his body and later he died.

Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch

²⁴ Everywhere that the believers went, they told people God's message. People heard the message in more and more places and many of them believed in Jesus.

²⁵ Barnabas and Saul had gone to Jerusalem to help the believers there. They finished their work and then they returned to Antioch. They took John Mark with them.

Footnotes

12:2 James and John were sons of Zebedee. King Herod killed James about 10 years after Jesus became alive again.
12:3 The Jews usually made bread with yeast, flour and water. But during the week of the Passover festival they did not use any yeast in their bread.
12:4 Each group of soldiers guarded the prison for four hours. When one group stopped the next group started. They did this day and night.
12:12 It is possible that John Mark wrote Mark's book about Jesus. Mary was the aunt of Barnabas.
12:15 At that time, some people believed that everyone had an angel. These angels kept them safe.
12:17 This is a different man called James than the man that Herod killed.
12:20 The Romans ruled Tyre and Sidon. These were not Jewish cities. And the people did not want Herod to rule them. But they bought their food from Galilee. And the problem was that Herod ruled in Galilee.

More Trouble for the Believers

12 During this same time, King Herod began to do harm to some of those who were part of the church. ² He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed with a sword. ³ Herod saw that many of the Jews liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ He arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. ⁵ So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.

Peter Is Led Out of the Jail

⁶ One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands. ⁸ The angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did as he was told. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.”

⁹ So the angel went out and Peter followed. He did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision. ¹⁰ Peter and the angel went past the first guard and the second guard. Then they came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened for them by itself. After they went through the gate and walked about a block, the angel suddenly left.

¹¹ Peter realized then what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from everything those Jews thought would happen to me.”

¹² When Peter realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark. Many people were gathered there and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked on the outside door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. ¹⁴ She recognized Peter’s voice, and she was very happy. She even forgot to open the door. She ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” ¹⁵ The believers said to her, “You are crazy!” But she continued to say that it was true. So they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

¹⁶ But Peter continued to knock. When the believers opened the door, they saw him. They were amazed. ¹⁷ Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained to them how the Lord led him out of the jail. He said, “Tell James and the other brothers what happened.” Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸ The next day the soldiers were very upset. They wondered what happened to Peter. ¹⁹ Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and then ordered that they be killed.

The Death of Herod Agrippa

Later, Herod moved from Judea. He went to the city of Caesarea and stayed there a while. ²⁰ Herod was very angry with the people from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. But these cities needed food from his country, so a group of them came to ask him for peace. They were able to get Blastus, the king’s personal servant, on their side.

²¹ Herod decided on a day to meet with them. On that day he was wearing a beautiful royal robe. He sat on his throne and made a speech to the people. ²² The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” ²³ Herod did not give the glory to God. So an angel of the Lord caused him to get sick. He was eaten by worms inside him, and he died.

²⁴ The message of God was spreading, reaching more and more people.

²⁵ After Barnabas and Saul finished their work in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

² And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

³ And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

⁴ And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

⁵ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

⁶ And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

⁷ And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

⁸ And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

⁹ And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

¹¹ And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

¹² And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

¹⁴ And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

¹⁵ And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

¹⁷ But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

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

¹⁹ And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

²⁰ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

²¹ And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

²² And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

²³ And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

²⁴ But the word of God grew and multiplied.

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

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

12 Now about that time ^{[ a ]} Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm. ² And he ^{( A )} had James the brother of John ^{( B )} executed with a sword. ³ When he saw that it ^{( C )} pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were ^{[ b ]} ^{( D )} the days of Unleavened Bread.) ⁴ When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four ^{[ c ]} ^{( E )} squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after ^{( F )} the Passover to bring him before the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God ^{[ d ]} intensely by the church.

⁶ On ^{[ e ]} the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^{( G )} bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. ⁷ And behold, ^{( H )} an angel of the Lord suddenly ^{( I )} stood near Peter , and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And ^{( J )} his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and ^{[ f ]} strap 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 continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing ^{( K )} a vision. ¹⁰ Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which ^{( L )} opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. ¹¹ When Peter ^{( M )} came ^{[ g ]} to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that ^{( N )} the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all ^{[ h ]} that the Jewish people were expecting.” ¹² And when he realized this , he went to the house of Mary, the mother of ^{( O )} John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and ^{( P )} were praying. ¹³ When he knocked at the door of the gate, ^{( Q )} a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, ^{( R )} because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is ^{( S )} his angel.” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door , they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But ^{( T )} motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to ^{[ i ]} ^{( U )} James and ^{( V )} the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to ^{[ j ]} what could have become of Peter. ¹⁹ When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they ^{( W )} be led away to execution . Then he went down from Judea to ^{( X )} Caesarea and was spending time there.

Death of Herod

²⁰ Now he was very angry with the people of ^{( Y )} Tyre and Sidon; and with one mind they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because ^{( Z )} their country was supported with grain from the king’s country. ²¹ On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the ^{[ k ]} rostrum and began delivering an address to them. ²² The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ And immediately ^{( AA )} an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and ^{[ l ]} died.

²⁴ But ^{( AB )} the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

²⁵ And ^{( AC )} Barnabas and ^{( AD )} Saul returned ^{( AE )} when they had fulfilled their ^{[ m ]} mission to Jerusalem, taking along with them ^{( AF )} John, who was also called Mark.

Footnotes

Acts 12:1 I.e., Herod Agrippa I
Acts 12:3 I.e., Passover week
Acts 12:4 Lit quaternions ; a quaternion was composed of four soldiers
Acts 12:5 Or constantly
Acts 12:6 Lit that night
Acts 12:8 Lit bind
Acts 12:11 Lit in himself
Acts 12:11 Lit the expectation of the people of the Jews
Acts 12:17 Or Jacob
Acts 12:18 Lit what therefore had become
Acts 12:21 Or judgment seat
Acts 12:23 Lit expired
Acts 12:25 Lit ministry

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod ^{( A )} arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, ^{( B )} put to death with the sword. ^{( C )} ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, ^{( D )} he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ^{( E )} ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. ^{( F )}

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. ^{( G )}

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, ^{( H )} and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel ^{( I )} of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. ^{( J )}

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ^{( K )} ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, ^{( L )} and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself ^{( M )} and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me ^{( N )} from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, ^{( O )} where many people had gathered and were praying. ^{( P )} ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ^{( Q )} ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed ^{( R )} she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” ^{( S )}

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand ^{( T )} for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James ^{( U )} and the other brothers and sisters ^{( V )} about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. ^{( W )}

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea ^{( X )} and stayed there. ²⁰ He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; ^{( Y )} they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. ^{( Z )}

²¹ On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. ²² They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” ²³ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel ^{( AA )} of the Lord struck him down, ^{( AB )} and he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God ^{( AC )} continued to spread and flourish. ^{( AD )}

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

²⁵ When Barnabas ^{( AE )} and Saul had finished their mission, ^{( AF )} they returned from ^{[ a ]} Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. ^{( AG )}

Footnotes

Acts 12:25 Some manuscripts to

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Table of Contents

King Herod puts Peter in prison

Peter walks out of the prison

King Herod dies

Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch

Footnotes

More Trouble for the Believers

Peter Is Led Out of the Jail

The Death of Herod Agrippa

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

Death of Herod

Footnotes

Cross references

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

Herod’s Death

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

Footnotes

Cross references

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Acts 12's Chapter Tabs Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

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King Herod puts Peter in prison

Peter walks out of the prison

King Herod dies

Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch

Footnotes

More Trouble for the Believers

Peter Is Led Out of the Jail

The Death of Herod Agrippa

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

Death of Herod

Footnotes

Cross references

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

Herod’s Death

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

Footnotes

Cross references

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Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.