使徒行传 12
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
希律王的暴行
12 那时，希律王下手残害教会的一些人， 2 杀了约翰的哥哥雅各。 3 他见这样做能取悦犹太人，便又在除酵节期间拘捕了彼得， 4 把他关在监里，由四班卫兵，每班四人轮流看守，想等逾越节[a]过后当众惩办他。 5 彼得被囚期间，教会都迫切地为他向上帝祷告。
彼得神奇出狱
6 在被希律提审前一夜，彼得被两条铁链锁着睡在两个卫兵中间，门外警卫森严。 7 忽然，有一位主的天使站在彼得身旁，监牢内一片光明，天使拍他的肋旁，把他叫醒，说：“赶快起来！”铁链就从他手上脱落下来。 8 天使对他说：“束上腰带，穿好鞋子。”彼得一一照办。天使又说：“披上外衣，跟我来！” 9 他跟着天使走出牢房，不知道这一切都是真的，还以为自己看到了异象。 10 他们一路穿过第一道和第二道守卫，来到通往城里的铁门，那门竟自动打开了。他们就出来，走过一条街之后，天使便离开了彼得。
11 彼得这才如梦初醒，说：“现在我确定，主派了天使来救我脱离希律的魔掌，不让犹太人的期望得逞。” 12 他清醒后，便到约翰·马可的母亲玛丽亚家，很多人正聚集在那里祷告。
13 彼得在外面敲门，有一个叫罗大的婢女出来应门。 14 她听出是彼得的声音，喜出望外，竟然没有开门就跑进去告诉大家：“彼得在门外！” 15 他们说：“你一定疯了。”她坚持说：“是真的！”他们就说：“是他的天使吧！”
16 彼得不住地敲门。他们开门看见他，都大吃一惊！ 17 彼得摆手示意他们安静，然后把主怎样领他出狱的经过告诉大家，又说：“把这事告诉雅各和其他弟兄姊妹。”交待完了，他便离开那里，往其他地方去了。
18 天亮后，监狱的守卫发现彼得不见了，顿时一片骚动。 19 希律派人四处搜捕，一无所获，于是亲自审问看守彼得的卫兵，下令处决他们。后来希律离开犹太，下到凯撒利亚，并住在那里。
希律的下场
20 希律对泰尔和西顿的人非常恼火。于是，他们联合起来去见他，先取得宫廷总管伯拉斯都的支持，然后向他求和，因为他们两地需要从他的辖区获得粮食。
21 到了约定的日子，希律穿上王袍，坐在宝座上向众人致词。 22 致词完毕，众人齐声高呼：“这是神明在说话，不是凡人在说话！” 23 希律没有把荣耀归给上帝，主的天使立刻惩罚他，他当场被虫子咬死了。
24 上帝的道日见兴旺，越传越广。
25 巴拿巴和扫罗把款项送到以后，就带着约翰·马可从耶路撒冷回去。
Acts 12
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 12
Persecution, Death, and Imprisonment.[a] 1 It was about this period of time that King Herod[b] persecuted certain members of the Church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, 3 and when he noted that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. Since this happened during the feast of Unleavened Bread, 4 he imprisoned him and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to subject him to a public trial after Passover. 5 While Peter was thus imprisoned, the Church prayed fervently to God for him.
6 On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards outside the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light flooded the building. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell away from his wrists. 8 Next, the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” After he did so, the angel instructed him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 Accordingly, Peter followed him out. He did not realize that the intervention of the angel was real, thinking that he was seeing a vision. 10 After passing through the first guard post and then the second, they reached the iron gate that led out to the city. This opened for them of its own accord. They went outside and had walked the length of one street when suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to his senses and said, “Now I am positive that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark,[c] where many had assembled and were at prayer.
13 When he knocked at the outer door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran in with the news that Peter was standing outside. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind,” but she insisted that it was true. Then they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 Meanwhile, Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door they saw him and were astounded. 17 He motioned to them with his hand to be silent. After he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, he said, “Report this to James[d] and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
18 At daybreak, there was a great deal of commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 After instituting a search for him and being unable to find him, Herod interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then he left Judea to reside for a while in Caesarea.
20 Death of Herod Agrippa I.[e] For a long time, Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who now came to him in a body. After gaining the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace because their country depended on the king’s territory for their food supplies.
21 On the designated day, Herod donned his royal robes and, seated on a throne, delivered a public address to them. 22 They began to acclaim him, shouting, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” 23 Immediately, the angel of the Lord struck him down because he had not attributed the honor to God. He was eaten away by worms and died.
24 Return of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem.[f] Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread and gain more followers. 25 Then, after Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.[g]
Footnotes
- Acts 12:1 Death and imprisonment are the fate of the disciple. Jesus has foretold it emphatically. Herod puts James (“the Greater”), the brother of John, to death by the sword. Since this pleases some of the Jews, he intends to put Peter to death, too, and takes him into custody. But Peter is freed from prison by an angel and goes back to the community, which rejoices that he is freed. Peter now departs from Acts without any indication of his further activity and his fate—martyrdom. Luke also leaves us in suspense regarding the end of Paul, on the last page of Acts.
- Acts 12:1 Herod: i.e., Herod Agrippa I, ruler of Judea and Samaria from A.D. 41 to 44; he was a nephew of the Herod Antipas whom we meet in the Passion of Jesus. James (“the Greater”) was the first of the apostles to drink the Lord’s cup (Mk 10:39) and give his life for the Master; his brother, John, will be the last of the apostles to leave the scene.
- Acts 12:12 Mark: cousin of Barnabas (see Col 4:10); we find Mark in Acts 12:25; 13:5, 13; 15:37-39, and in the service of Paul the prisoner (Col 4:10; Philem 24; 2 Tim 4:11). He was a disciple of Peter (1 Pet 5:13), and tradition considers him to be the author of the second Gospel.
- Acts 12:17 James: this is James the Lesser, a brother of the Lord, i.e., one of Jesus’ collateral relatives; we will find him presiding over the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 15; 17). Peter is said, in words surely carefully weighed, to have gone “to another place”; Acts will not speak of him again.
- Acts 12:20 This time again, in the manner of the Old Testament, the intervention of the hand of God is emphasized. The account poses the problem of war: it is a scourge in which the economy is tied to the will for power. Here the war against Tyre and Sidon is put off thanks to a compromise. But the political pride of a leader who takes himself for God is dissipated by a mortal sickness, which popular tradition interprets as a punishment.
The episode accords with the chronology of the time. It inserts Acts into universal history. Herod died, after a great feast, eaten by worms, in A.D. 44. - Acts 12:24 As in a refrain, Luke again refers to the vital power of the Gospel. With the return of Barnabas and Saul from Antioch, a new page begins.
- Acts 12:25 Mark: see note on Acts 12:12.
Acts 12
King James Version
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of 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, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, 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 when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, 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, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Acts 12
New King James Version
Herod’s Violence to the Church
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James (A)the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during (B)the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So (C)when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four [a]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter Freed from Prison
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but [b]constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were [c]keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, (D)an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and (E)did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought (F)he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, (G)which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that (H)the Lord has sent His angel, and (I)has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, (J)he came to the house of Mary, the mother of (K)John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together (L)praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, (M)“It is his angel.”
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But (N)motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small [d]stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod’s Violent Death
20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of (O)Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus [e]the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because (P)their country was [f]supplied with food by the king’s country.
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord (Q)struck him, because (R)he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and [g]died.
24 But (S)the word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul Appointed
25 And (T)Barnabas and Saul returned [h]from Jerusalem when they had (U)fulfilled their ministry, and they also (V)took with them (W)John whose surname was Mark.
Footnotes
- Acts 12:4 Gr. tetrads, squads of four
- Acts 12:5 NU constantly or earnestly
- Acts 12:6 guarding
- Acts 12:18 disturbance
- Acts 12:20 who was in charge of the king’s bedchamber
- Acts 12:20 Lit. nourished
- Acts 12:23 breathed his last
- Acts 12:25 NU, M to
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
