Acts 12 — James killed; Peter delivered; Herod’s death — Greek text and reception

Greek–English Translation

About that time King Herod laid hands on some of the Church to mistreat them.

Greek–English Translation

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

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When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. These were the days of Unleavened Bread.

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He seized him and put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out before the people after the Passover.

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So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was being made to God by the Church.

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On the night before Herod was to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards before the door kept watch over the prison.

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And look—an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and light shone in the cell. Striking Peter’s side, he woke him and said, “Rise quickly.” The chains fell from his hands.

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The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

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Peter went out and followed. He did not know that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

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They passed the first guard post and the second and came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord. They went out and continued along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

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When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know truly that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s hand and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”

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After considering this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.

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When he knocked at the outer gate’s door, a slave girl named Rhoda came to answer.

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Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate, but ran inside and announced that Peter was standing before it.

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They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

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Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they saw him and were astonished.

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He motioned with his hand for them to be silent and related how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

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When day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

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Herod searched for him and did not find him. After examining the guards, he ordered them to be led away for execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

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Herod was fiercely hostile toward the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came to him with one accord and, after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, asked for peace, because their country received its food from the king’s territory.

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On an appointed day Herod put on royal clothing, sat on the tribunal, and delivered an address to them.

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The populace shouted, “A god’s voice, and not a human being’s!”

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Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God. He became eaten by worms and breathed his last.

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But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Greek–English Translation

Barnabas and Saul returned, having completed their service to Jerusalem, and took along John who was called Mark.