Jul. 18, 19
Acts 12
Act 12:1 Now about that
time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the
assembly.
Act 12:2 He killed
James, the brother of John, with the sword.
Act 12:3 When he saw
that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was
during the days of unleavened bread.
Act 12:4 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.
Act 12:5 Peter
therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the
assembly to God for him.
Act 12:6 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.
Act 12:7 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.
Act 12:8 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."
Act 12:9 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.
Act 12:10 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.
Act 12:11 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."
Act 12:12 Thinking
about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose
surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Act 12:13 When Peter
knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
Act 12:14 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.
Act 12:15 They said to
her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They
said, "It is his angel."
Act 12:16 But Peter
continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were
amazed.
Act 12:17 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.
Act 12:18 Now as soon
as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what
had become of Peter.
Act 12:19 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.
Act 12:20 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.
Act 12:21 On an
appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the
throne, and gave a speech to them.
Act 12:22 The people
shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
Act 12:23 Immediately
an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give God the
glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Act 12:24 But the word
of God grew and multiplied.
Act 12:25 Barnabas and
Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service,
also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.