Acts of the Apostles 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them.	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, killed by the sword,	2 Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
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.)	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 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.	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 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.	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 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.	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 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.	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 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."	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 So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was 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 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.	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 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."	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 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.	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 When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named 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 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.	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 told her, "You are out of your mind," but she insisted that it was so. But they kept saying, "It is 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 But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded.	16 But Peter was persevering in knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.
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.	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 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had 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, after instituting a search but not finding him, ordered the guards tried and executed. Then he left Judea to spend some time in Caesarea.	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 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.	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 On an appointed day, Herod, attired in royal robes, (and) seated on the rostrum, addressed them publicly.	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 assembled crowd cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."	22 Then the people were crying out, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
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.	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 But the word of God continued to spread and grow.	24 But the word of the Lord was increasing and multiplying.
25 After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.	25 Then Barnabas and Saul, having completed the ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, who was surnamed Mark.