1Now about that time, Herod the king laid his hands upon certain of the church, to oppress them.
2And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also; (then were the days of unleavened bread;)
4and he seized him and put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.
5Peter therefore was kept guarded in prison; but earnest prayer was made by the church to God in his behalf.
6And when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and keepers before the door were guarding the prison.
7And lo! an angel of the Lord came to him, and a light shone in the room; and he smote Peter on the side, and roused him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell from his hands.
8And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. And he saith to him, Throw thy garment round thee, and follow me.
9And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
10And when they had passed the first, and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which opened to them of itself; and they went out and passed on through one street, and the angel immediately departed from him.
11And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know certainly, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12And when he understood the matter, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together, and praying.
13And as he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid-servant came to listen, named Rhoda;
14and recognizing Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness; but ran in, and told them that Peter was standing before the gate.
15And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she positively affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, It is his angel.
16But Peter continued knocking; and opening the door, they saw him, and were amazed.
17But beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go and tell these things to James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.
18And when it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had become of Peter.
19And Herod, when he had sought for him and found him not, examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be led away [[to execution]]. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20And he was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, sued for peace; because their country drew its nourishment from that of the king.
21And on a day appointed, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal apparel, and taken his seat on the throne, made a speech to them.
22And thereupon the people shouted, The voice of a god, and not of a man!
23But immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten by worms, and expired.
24But the word of God grew and was extended.
25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having performed their service, taking with them also John, surnamed Mark.