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Арест и чудесное освобождение Петира

12 Примерно в это же время царь Ирод[a] начал гонения на некоторых из общины верующих. Он приказал убить мечом Якуба, брата Иохана[b]. Когда он увидел, что иудеи этим довольны, он арестовал и Петира. Это произошло во время праздника Пресных хлебов[c]. Петира арестовали, заточили в темницу и выставили охрану из четырёх смен караула по четыре человека в каждой. Ирод намеревался после праздника Освобождения[d] судить Петира на глазах у всего народа. Петир был под стражей в темнице, а община верующих горячо молилась о нём Всевышнему.

В ночь перед тем, как Ирод должен был вывести его на суд, Петир спал между двумя солдатами, скованный двумя цепями, а стражники у входа стерегли темницу. Внезапно явился ангел от Вечного, и камеру осиял свет. Ангел толкнул Петира в бок и разбудил его.

– Вставай быстрее! – сказал он, и цепи упали с рук Петира.

Ангел сказал:

– Подпояшься и обуй сандалии.

Петир сделал это.

– Обернись плащом и иди за мной, – сказал ангел.

Петир вышел за ангелом из темницы, не понимая, что всё, что делает ангел, происходит наяву. Ему казалось, что он видит видение. 10 Они прошли мимо первой стражи, потом мимо второй и подошли к железным воротам, ведущим в город. Ворота сами открылись перед ними, и они вышли. Они прошли одну улицу, и вдруг ангел исчез. 11 Когда Петир пришёл в себя, он сказал:

– Теперь я действительно знаю, что Вечный послал Своего ангела и избавил меня от руки Ирода и спас от того зла, которое желал мне иудейский народ.

12 Поняв, что произошло, Петир пошёл в дом Марьям, матери Иохана, которого ещё называли Марком, где собралось для молитвы много народа. 13 Петир постучал в ворота, и на стук вышла служанка Рода. 14 Она узнала Петира по голосу и, забыв от радости открыть ворота, побежала обратно сказать, что Петир стоит у ворот.

15 – Ты не в своём уме! – сказали ей.

Но она продолжала настаивать.

– Это его ангел,[e] – решили они.

16 Между тем Петир продолжал стучать, и когда они наконец открыли ворота и увидели его, то пришли в изумление. 17 Петир жестом попросил их молчать и рассказал, как Вечный вывел его из темницы.

– Расскажите об этом Якубу[f] и другим братьям, – сказал он им и ушёл оттуда в другое место.

18 Наутро среди солдат произошло большое замешательство, никто не знал, что случилось с Петиром. 19 Ирод искал его, но поскольку розыски не принесли результата, он допросил стражников и велел казнить их.

Смерть царя Ирода

Затем Ирод отправился из Иудеи в Кесарию и оставался там некоторое время. 20 Ирод был рассержен на жителей Тира и Сидона, и те, согласившись между собой, явились к нему и, заручившись поддержкой Бласта, управляющего царским двором, попросили мира, потому что их область зависела от области царя в поставке продовольствия. 21 В назначенный день Ирод надел царскую мантию, сел на трон и обратился к ним с речью. 22 Народ стал восклицать:

– Это голос бога, а не человека!

23 Но в тот же момент ангел от Вечного поразил Ирода, потому что он не воздал славы Всевышнему, и Ирод, изъеденный червями, умер.

24 Слово Всевышнего между тем распространялось всё дальше и дальше. 25 Варнава и Шаул выполнили возложенную на них миссию и возвратились из Иерусалима[g], взяв с собой Иохана, которого ещё называли Марком.

Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Это Ирод Агриппа I, внук Ирода Великого. Он правил Иудеей, Самарией и Галилеей с 37 по 44 гг.
  2. 12:2 Якуб и Иохан входили в число двенадцати посланников Масиха (см. Мат. 10:2).
  3. 12:3 Праздник Пресных хлебов – в этот праздник, длившийся семь дней, предписывалось есть только пресный хлеб (см. Исх. 12:15-20; 13:3-10; Лев. 23:6-8; Чис. 28:17-25).
  4. 12:4 Праздник Освобождения   – этот праздник отмечался в память об избавлении иудейского народа под руководством пророка Мусы из Египетского рабства (см. Исх. 12; 13:17-22; 14; Втор. 16:1-8). Часто, когда говорили о празднике Освобождения, имели в виду и сам праздник Освобождения, и следующий за ним праздник Пресных хлебов.
  5. 12:15 Иудеи верили, что у каждого человека есть свой ангел-хранитель. Инджил говорит об ангелах-хранителях у детей (см. Мат. 18:10) и у последователей Исы Масиха (см. Евр. 1:14; см. также Заб. 33:8; 90:11).
  6. 12:17 Якуб   – единоутробный брат Исы Масиха (см. Мат. 13:55), который был важнейшим лидером общины верующих в Иерусалиме (см. 21:17-18; Гал. 2:9).
  7. 12:25 Или: «в Иерусалим».

12 Or in quel tempo il re Erode cominciò a perseguitare alcuni membri della chiesa.

E fece morire di spada Giacomo, fratello di Giovanni.

E, vedendo che questo era gradito ai Giudei, fece arrestare anche Pietro (or erano i giorni degli Azzimi).

Dopo averlo arrestato, lo mise in prigione e lo affidò alla custodia di quattro picchetti di quattro soldati ciascuno, intendendo di farlo comparire davanti al popolo dopo la Pasqua.

Ma, mentre Pietro era custodito nella prigione, continue orazioni a Dio erano fatte dalla chiesa per lui.

Or la notte, prima che Erode lo facesse comparire in pubblico, Pietro dormiva in mezzo a due soldati, legato con due catene; e le guardie davanti alla porta custodivano la prigione.

Ed ecco, un angelo del Signore sopraggiunse e una luce risplendette nella cella; e, percosso il fianco di Pietro, lo svegliò, dicendo: «Alzati in fretta!». E le catene gli caddero dalle mani.

Quindi l'angelo gli disse: «Cingiti allacciati i sandali». Ed egli fece così. Poi gli disse: «Avvolgiti nel mantello e seguimi».

E Pietro, uscito, lo seguiva senza rendersi conto che ciò che gli stava accadendo per mezzo dell'angelo fosse vero infatti egli pensava di avere una visione.

10 Ora, come oltrepassarono il primo e il secondo posto di guardia, giunsero alla porta di ferro che conduceva in città, ed essa si aprí da sé davanti a loro, e, usciti percorsero una strada, e all'improvviso l'angelo lo lasciò.

11 Quando rientrò in sé, Pietro disse: «Ora per certo riconosco che il Signore ha mandato il suo angelo e mi ha liberato dalle mani di Erode e ha resa vana tutta l'attesa del popolo dei Giudei».

12 Quando si rese conto della situazione, si recò alla casa di Maria, madre di Giovanni, soprannominato Marco, dove molti fratelli erano radunati e pregavano.

13 Appena Pietro bussò alla porta d'ingresso, una serva di nome Rode si avvicinò cautamente per ascoltare.

14 E, riconosciuta la voce di Pietro, per la gioia non aprí la porta, ma corse dentro e annunziò che Pietro stava davanti all'ingresso.

15 Ma essi le dissero: «Tu vaneggi». Ella però affermava che era cosí. E quelli dicevano: «E' il suo angelo».

16 Pietro intanto continuava a bussare. Or essi, avendo aperto, lo videro e sbigottirono.

17 Ma egli, fatto loro cenno con la mano di tacere, raccontò loro come il Signore lo aveva fatto uscire dalla prigione. Poi disse: «Riferite queste cose a Giacomo e ai fratelli». Poi uscí e si recò in un altro luogo.

18 Quando si fece giorno vi fu un gran subbuglio fra i soldati, perché non sapevano cosa fosse avvenuto di Pietro.

19 Ed Erode lo mandò a cercare ma non lo trovò e, dopo avere interrogato le guardie, comandò che fossero condotte al supplizio. Poi discese dalla Giudea a Cesarea e là si fermò per un podi tempo.

20 Or Erode era indignato contro i Tiri e i Sidoni; ma essi di comune accordo si presentarono a lui e, persuaso Blasto, ciambellano del re, chiedevano pace perché il loro paese era rifornito di viveri dalla liberalità del re.

21 Nel giorno stabilito Erode, vestito del manto regale e seduto sul trono, teneva loro un discorso.

22 Il popolo lo acclamava, dicendo: «Voce di Dio e non di uomo!».

23 In quell'istante un angelo del Signore lo colpí, perché non aveva dato gloria a Dio; e morí roso dai vermi.

24 Ora la parola di Dio cresceva e si diffondeva.

25 E Barnaba e Saulo, ultimata la loro missione, ritornarono da Gerusalemme ad Antiochia, avendo preso con loro Giovanni, soprannominato Marco.

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John,(B) put to death with the sword.(C) When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.(E) After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.(F)

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.(G)

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,(H) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel(I) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.(J)

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.(K) 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,(L) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself(M) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me(N) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,(O) where many people had gathered and were praying.(P) 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.(Q) 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed(R) she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”(S)

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand(T) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James(U) and the other brothers and sisters(V) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.(W)

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea(X) and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon;(Y) they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.(Z)

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel(AA) of the Lord struck him down,(AB) and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God(AC) continued to spread and flourish.(AD)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

25 When Barnabas(AE) and Saul had finished their mission,(AF) they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:25 Some manuscripts to

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

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.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

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.

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.

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.

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.