Acts of the Apostles 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now at the same time, king Herod extended his hand, in order to afflict some from the Church.	1 About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them.
2 Then 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 set out next to apprehend Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread.	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 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.	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 And so Peter was detained in prison. But prayers were being made without ceasing, by the Church, to God on his behalf.	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 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.	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 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.	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 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.”	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 did not know this truth: that this was being done by an Angel. For he thought that he was seeing 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 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.	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, 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.”	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 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.	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 Then, as he knocked at the door of the gate, a girl went out to answer, whose name was Rhoda.	13 When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it.
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.	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, “You are crazy.” But she reaffirmed that this was so. Then they were saying, “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 was persevering in 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 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.	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 Then, when daylight came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had happened concerning Peter.	18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
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.	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 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.	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 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.	21 On an appointed day, Herod, attired in royal robes, (and) seated on the rostrum, addressed them publicly.
22 Then the people were crying out, “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 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.	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 was increasing and multiplying.	24 But the word of God continued to spread and grow.
25 Then Barnabas and Saul, having completed the ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing 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.