1 N ow about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict and oppress and torment some who belonged to the church (assembly).

2 A nd he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And he killed James the brother of John with a sword;

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

And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded further and arrested Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

4 A nd 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.

And when he had seized, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him, purposing after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

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

So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church (assembly).

6 A nd 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.

The very night before Herod was about to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

7 A nd, 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.

And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands.

8 A nd 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.

And the angel said to him, Tighten your belt and bind on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Wrap your outer garment around you and follow me.

9 A nd 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.

And went out following him, and he was not conscious that what was apparently being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

10 W hen 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.

When they had passed through the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city. Of its own accord swung open, and they went out and passed on through one street; and at once the angel left him.

11 A nd 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.

Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I really know and am sure that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.

12 A nd 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.

When he, at a glance, became aware of this '> comprehending all the elements of the case], he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where a large number were assembled together and were praying.

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

And when he knocked at the gate of the porch, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

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

And recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she failed to open the gate, but ran in and told the people that Peter was standing before the porch gate.

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

They said to her, You are crazy! But she persistently and strongly and confidently affirmed that it was the truth. They said, It is his angel!

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

But meanwhile Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.

17 B ut 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.

But motioning to them with his hand to keep quiet and listen, he related to them how the Lord had delivered him out of the prison. And he said, Report all this to James and to the brethren. Then he left and went to some other place.

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

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

19 A nd 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 Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode.

And when Herod had looked for him and could not find him, he placed the guards on trial and commanded that they should be led away. Then went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed on there.

20 A nd 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.

Now cherished bitter animosity and hostility for the people of Tyre and Sidon; and came to him in a united body, and having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by and depended on the king’s for food.

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

On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon throne, and addressed an oration to them.

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

And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!

23 A nd 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.

And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 B ut the word of God grew and multiplied.

But the Word of the Lord continued to grow and spread.

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

And Barnabas and Saul came back from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing with them John whose surname was Mark.