Acts 12
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed aJames the brother of John bwith the sword, 3 and when he saw athat it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during bthe days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him ain prison, delivering him over to four bsquads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest aprayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, abound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, aan angel of the Lord bstood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. cHe struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And dthe chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and aput on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but athought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. aIt opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter acame to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that bthe Lord has sent his angel and crescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of aJohn whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and bwere praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, aa servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, ain her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is ahis angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But amotioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to bJames and to cthe brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and aordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
The Death of Herod
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and ahaving persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because btheir country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately aan angel of the Lord struck him down, because bhe did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But athe word of God increased and multiplied.
25 aAnd Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them bJohn, whose other name was Mark.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.