King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
  • 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
  • 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
  • 4 And 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.
  • 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
  • 6 And 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.
  • 7 And, 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.
  • 8 And 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.
  • 9 And 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.
  • 10 When 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.
  • 11 And 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.
  • 12 And 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.
  • 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
  • 14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
  • 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
  • 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
  • 17 But 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.
  • 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
  • 19 And 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 Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
  • 20 And 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.
  • 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
  • 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
  • 23 And 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.
  • 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
  • 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
  • 1 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them.
  • 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.
  • 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
  • 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
  • 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
  • 6 On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
  • 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
  • 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put 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 continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
  • 10 When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
  • 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
  • 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
  • 13 When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer.
  • 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
  • 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.”
  • 16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
  • 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
  • 18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter.
  • 19 When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.
  • 20 Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king's chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king's country.
  • 21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them.
  • 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
  • 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
  • 24 But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.
  • 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.