Acts of the Apostles 12

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church.	1 About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them.
2 And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.	2 He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes.	3 and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (It was (the) feast of Unleavened Bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people.	4 He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.	5 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.
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 very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
7 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands.	7 Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.
8 And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.	8 The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
9 And going out, he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision.	9 So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the angel departed from him.	10 They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him.
11 And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed, 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 Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that (the) Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."
12 And considering, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.	12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer.
13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, whose name was Rhode.	13 When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it.
14 And as soon as she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate.	14 She was so overjoyed when she recognized Peter's voice that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.
15 But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his angel.	15 They told her, "You are out of your mind," but she insisted that it was so. But they kept saying, "It is his angel."
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished.	16 But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded.
17 But he beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and he said: Tell these things to James, and to the brethren. And going out, he went into another place.	17 He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and explained (to them) how the Lord had led him out of the prison, and said, "Report this to James and the brothers." Then he left and went to another place.
18 Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.	18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not; having examined the keepers, he commanded they should be put to death; and going down from Judea to Caesarea, he abode there.	19 Herod, after instituting a search but not finding him, ordered the guards tried and executed. Then he left Judea to spend some time in Caesarea.
20 And he was angry with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. But they with one accord came to him, and having gained Blastus, who was the king's chamberlain, they desired peace, because their countries were nourished by him.	20 He had long been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who now came to him in a body. After winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they sued for peace because their country was supplied with food from the king's territory.
21 And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat, and made an oration to them.	21 On an appointed day, Herod, attired in royal robes, (and) seated on the rostrum, addressed them publicly.
22 And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.	22 The assembled crowd cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."
23 And forthwith an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honour to God: and being eaten up by worms, he gave up the ghost.	23 At once the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not ascribe the honor to God, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied.	24 But the word of God continued to spread and grow.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark.	25 After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.