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

At that time King Herod used his power to make it hard for the Christians in the church.

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

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.)

When he saw that it made the Jews happy, he took hold of Peter also. This was during the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

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.

Herod took Peter and put him in prison and had sixteen soldiers watch him. After the special religious gathering was over, he planned to bring Peter out to the people. Peter Goes Free

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

So Peter was held in prison. But the church kept praying to God for him.

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 night before Herod was to bring him out for his trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was tied with two chains. Soldiers stood by the door and watched 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.

All at once an angel of the Lord was seen standing beside him. A light shone in the building. The angel hit Peter on the side and said, “Get up!” Then 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.

The angel said, “Put on your belt and shoes!” He did. The angel said to Peter, “Put on your coat 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.

Peter followed him out. He was not sure what was happening as the angel helped him. He thought it was a dream.

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.

They passed one soldier, then another one. They came to the big iron door that leads to the city and it opened by itself and they went through. As soon as they had gone up one street, the angel left him. The Christians Find It Hard to Believe Peter Is Free

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.

As Peter began to see what was happening, he said to himself, “Now I am sure the Lord has sent His angel and has taken me out of the hands of Herod. He has taken me also from all the things the Jews wanted to do to me.”

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.

After thinking about all this, he went to Mary’s house. She was the mother of John Mark. Many Christians were gathered there praying.

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

When Peter knocked at the gate, a girl named Rhoda went to see who it was.

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.

She knew Peter’s voice, but in her joy she forgot to open the gate. She ran in and told them that Peter was standing outside the 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 said again that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.”

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

Peter kept knocking. When they opened the gate and saw him, they were surprised and wondered about it.

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.

He raised his hand and told them not to talk but to listen to him. He told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Tell all these things to James and to the other Christian brothers.” Then he went to another place. The Death of Herod

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

In the morning the soldiers were very troubled about what had happened to 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.

Herod looked for him but could not find him. He asked the soldiers who watched the prison about Peter. Herod said that the soldiers must be killed because Peter got away. Then Herod went down from the country of Judea to the city of Caesarea to stay for awhile.

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.

Herod was very angry with the people of the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They went to him and asked for peace to be made between them and the king. They asked this because their country got food from the king’s country. The people made friends with Blastus, the king’s helper.

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

A day was set aside. On that day Herod put on purple clothes a king wears. He sat on his throne and spoke to the people.

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

They all started to speak with a loud voice, “This is the voice of a god, 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.

The angel of the Lord knocked him down because he did not give honor to God. He was eaten by worms and died.

24 B ut the word of God grew and multiplied.

The Word of God was heard by many people and went into more places.

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

Saul and Barnabas went back to Jerusalem after they had finished their work. They took John Mark with them.