Acts of the Apostles 12

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church.	1 Now at the same time, king Herod extended his hand, in order to afflict some from the Church.
2 He had James the brother of John beheaded,	2 Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3 and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he went on to arrest Peter as wel .	3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he set out next to apprehend Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread.
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.	4 So when he had apprehended him, he sent him into prison, handing him over into the custody of four groups of four soldiers, intending to produce him to the people after the Passover.
5 Al the time Peter was under guard the church prayed to God for him unremittingly.	5 And so Peter was detained in prison. But prayers were being made without ceasing, by the Church, to God on his behalf.
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.	6 And when Herod was ready to produce him, in that same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, and was bound with two chains. And there were guards in front of the door, guarding the prison.
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.	7 And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near, and a light shined forth in the cell. And tapping Peter on the side, he awakened him, saying, “Rise up, quickly.” And the chains fell from his hands.
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.'	8 Then the Angel said to him: “Dress yourself, and put on your boots.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.”
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.	9 And going out, he followed him. And he did not know this truth: that this was being done by an Angel. For he thought that he was seeing a vision.
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.	10 And passing by the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city; and it opened for them by itself. And departing, they continued on along a certain side street. And suddenly the Angel withdrew from him.
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.'	11 And Peter, returning to himself, said: “Now I know, truly, that the Lord sent his Angel, and that he rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews were anticipating.”
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.	12 And as he was considering this, he arrived at the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered and were praying.
13 He knocked at the outside door and a servant called Rhoda came to answer it.	13 Then, as he knocked at the door of the gate, a girl went out to answer, whose name was Rhoda.
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.	14 And when she recognized the voice of Peter, out of joy, she did not open the gate, but instead, running in, she reported that Peter stood before the gate.
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!'	15 But they said to her, “You are crazy.” But she reaffirmed that this was so. Then they were saying, “It is his angel.”
16 Peter, meanwhile, was stil knocking. When they opened the door, they were amazed to see that itreal y was Peter himself.	16 But Peter was persevering in knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.
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.	17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained how the Lord had led him away from prison. And he said, “Inform James and those brothers.” And going out, he went away to another place.
18 When daylight came there was a great commotion among the soldiers, who could not imagine whathad become of Peter.	18 Then, when daylight came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had happened concerning Peter.
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.	19 And when Herod had requested him and did not obtain him, having had the guards interrogated, he ordered them led away. And descending from Judea into Caesarea, he lodged there.
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.	20 Now he was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord, and, having persuaded Blastus, who was over the bedchamber of the king, they petitioned for peace, because their regions were supplied with food by him.
21 A day was fixed, and Herod, wearing his robes of state and seated on a throne, began to make aspeech to them.	21 Then, on the appointed day, Herod was clothed in kingly apparel, and he sat in the judgment seat, and he gave a speech to them.
22 The people acclaimed him with, 'It is a god speaking, not a man!'	22 Then the people were crying out, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
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.	23 And immediately, an Angel of the Lord struck him down, because he had not given honor to God. And having been consumed by worms, he expired.
24 The word of God continued to spread and to gain fol owers.	24 But the word of the Lord was increasing and multiplying.
25 Barnabas and Saul completed their task at Jerusalem and came back, bringing John Mark with them.	25 Then Barnabas and Saul, having completed the ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, who was surnamed Mark.