God's New Bible

The Acts of the Apostles

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 12 -

1
And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church.
2
And he killed James, the brother of John, with 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.
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.

The Rescue of Peter

5
Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
13
And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, whose name was Rhode.
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.
15
But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his angel.
16
But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished.
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.
18
Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was 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.

The Death of Herod

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.
21
And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat, and made an oration to them.
22
And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and 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.
24
But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied.
25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark.
1
Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
2
He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
4
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

The Rescue of Peter

5
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
6
The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
7
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands.
8
The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
9
And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
10
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
12
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15
They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
16
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
17
But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
19
When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

The Death of Herod

20
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22
The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.
24
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25
Barnabas and Saul returned to (a) Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

Footnotes

(a)12:25 TR reads “from” instead of “to”