Acts, 12

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

1. About that time King Herod decided to persecute some members of the Church.

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

2. He had James, the brother of John, killed 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.)

3. and when he saw how it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This happened during the festival of the 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.

4. Herod had him seized and thrown into prison with four squads, each of four soldiers, to guard him. He wanted to bring him to trial before the people after the Passover feast,

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

5. but while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly 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.

6. On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by a double chain, while guards kept watch at the gate of 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.

7. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there and a light shone in the prison cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him saying, "Get up quickly!" At once the chains fell from Peter's wrists. The angel said, "Put on your belt and your sandals." Peter did so,

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.

8. and the angel added, "Now, put on your cloak 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.

9. Peter followed him out; yet he did not realize that what was happening with the angel was real; he thought he was seeing 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.

10. They passed the first guard and then the second and they came to the iron door leading out to the city, which opened of itself for them. They went out and made their way down a narrow alley, when suddenly the angel left 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.

11. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel and has rescued me from Herod's clutches and from all that the Jews had in store for me."

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.

12. Peter then found his bearings and came to the house of Mary, the mother of John also known as Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

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

13. When he knocked at the outside door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it.

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.

14. On recognizing the voice of Peter she was so overcome with joy that, instead of opening the door, she ran in to announce that Peter was at the door.

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.

15. They said to her, "You are crazy!" And as she insisted, they said, "It must be his angel."

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

16. Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking and, when they finally opened the door, they were amazed to see him.

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.

17. He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. And he said to them, "Report this to James and to the brothers." Then he left and went to another place.

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

18. At daybreak there was a great commotion among the soldiers over what had 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.

19. Herod began a search for him and, not finding him, had the guards questioned and executed. After that, he came down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

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].

20. At that time Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. By general agreement they appeared before him and, after having won over Blastus, the king's treasurer, they asked for peace, for their country was supplied with food from the territory of Herod.

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

21. On the appointed day Herod, clothed in royal robes, sat on his throne and addressed them.

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

22. So the assembled crowd shouted back, "A god is speaking, not 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.

23. The angel of the Lord immediately struck Herod for he did not return the honor to God, and he died eaten by worms.

24. But the word of God grew and multiplied.

24. Meanwhile the word of God was increasing and spreading.

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

25. Barnabas and Saul carried out their mission and then came back from Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.