Acts 12

Peter imprisoned and prayed for Acts 12:4–5

⁴Verse 4. When 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. ⁵Verse 5. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

Miraculous escape from prison Acts 12:6–11

⁶Verse 6. The 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. ⁷Verse 7. And 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. ⁸Verse 8. The 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.” ⁹Verse 9. And 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.

¹⁰Verse 10. When 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. ¹¹Verse 11. When 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.”

Peter's arrival at Mary's house Acts 12:12–17

¹²Verse 12. Thinking 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. ¹³Verse 13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴Verse 14. When 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. ¹⁵Verse 15. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” ¹⁶Verse 16. But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

¹⁷Verse 17. But 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.

Aftermath of Peter's escape Acts 12:18–19

¹⁸Verse 18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹Verse 19. When 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.

Herod's downfall Acts 12:20–23

²⁰Verse 20. Now 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. ²¹Verse 21. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. ²²Verse 22. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³Verse 23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

The growth of the word Acts 12:24–25

²⁴Verse 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. ²⁵Verse 25. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.