Acts of the Apostles 12

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.	1 It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.	2 He had James the brother of John beheaded,
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)	3 and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he went on to arrest Peter as wel .
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.	4 As it was during the days of Unleavened Bread that he had arrested him, he put him in prison,assigning four sections of four soldiers each to guard him, meaning to try him in public after the Passover.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.	5 Al the time Peter was under guard the church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
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.	6 On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with twochains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to 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.	7 Then suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and the cel was fil ed with light. He tapped Peter onthe side and woke him. 'Get up!' he said, 'Hurry!' -- and the chains fel 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.	8 The angel then said, 'Put on your belt and sandals.' After he had done this, the angel next said, 'Wrapyour cloak round you and fol ow 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.	9 He followed him out, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought hewas seeing 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.	10 They passed through the first guard post and then the second and reached the iron gate leading tothe city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street whensuddenly the angel left 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.	11 It was only then that Peter came to himself. And he said, 'Now I know it is all true. The Lord real y didsend his angel and save me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.'
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.	12 As soon as he realised this he went straight to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where anumber of people had assembled and were praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.	13 He knocked at the outside door and a servant called Rhoda came to answer it.
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.	14 She recognised Peter's voice and was so overcome with joy that, instead of opening the door, she raninside with the news that Peter was standing at the main entrance.
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.	15 They said to her, 'You are out of your mind,' but she insisted that it was true. Then they said, 'It mustbe his angel!'
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.	16 Peter, meanwhile, was stil knocking. When they opened the door, they were amazed to see that itreal y was Peter himself.
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.	17 He raised his hand for silence and described to them how the Lord had led him out of prison. Headded, 'Tell James and the brothers.' Then he left and went elsewhere.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.	18 When daylight came there was a great commotion among the soldiers, who could not imagine whathad 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.	19 Herod put out an unsuccessful search for him; he had the guards questioned, and before leavingJudaea to take up residence in Caesarea he gave orders for their execution.
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.	20 Now Herod was on bad terms with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Yet they sent a joint deputation whichmanaged to enlist the support of Blastus, the king's chamberlain, and through him negotiated a treaty, since theircountry depended for its food supply on the king's territory.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.	21 A day was fixed, and Herod, wearing his robes of state and seated on a throne, began to make aspeech to them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.	22 The people acclaimed him with, 'It is a god speaking, not 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.	23 and at that moment the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he had not given the glory toGod. He was eaten away by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.	24 The word of God continued to spread and to gain fol owers.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.	25 Barnabas and Saul completed their task at Jerusalem and came back, bringing John Mark with them.