1 N ow about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

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

2 H e killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

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

3 W hen he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during 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 W hen he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

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 the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

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

6 T he same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of 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, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” 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 T he angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, 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. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, 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 guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately 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 W hen Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”

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 T hinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were 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 W hen Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

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

14 W hen she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of 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 T hey said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “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. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

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

17 B ut he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to 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 about what had 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 W hen Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

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 N ow Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

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 O n an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

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

22 T he people shouted, “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 I mmediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

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 B arnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

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