希律王的暴行

12 那时,希律王下手残害教会的一些人, 杀了约翰的哥哥雅各。 他见这样做能取悦犹太人,便又在除酵节期间拘捕了彼得, 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。 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

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。 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。 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!” 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。

Footnotes

  1. 12:4 除酵节为期七天,逾越节是其中的第一天,参见出埃及记12章。

12 At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt,

and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were the days of unleavened bread:)

whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.

And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept the prison.

And lo, an angel of [the] Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.

And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.

And going forth he followed [him] and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.

10 And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.

11 And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that [the] Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12 And having become clearly conscious [in himself], he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and praying.

13 And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda;

14 and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry.

15 And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.

16 But Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him and were astonished.

17 And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related [to them] how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.

18 And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.

19 And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded [them] to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed [there].

20 And he was in bitter hostility with [the] Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's.

21 And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat [of honour], Herod made a public oration to them.

22 And the people cried out, A god's voice and not a man's.

23 And immediately an angel of [the] Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms.

24 But the word of God grew and spread itself.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service [entrusted to them], taking also with them John, surnamed Mark.

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

Herod’s Violence to the Church

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James (A)the brother of John with the sword. 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. 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

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but [b]constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 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. 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. 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.” 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

  1. Acts 12:4 Gr. tetrads, squads of four
  2. Acts 12:5 NU constantly or earnestly
  3. Acts 12:6 guarding
  4. Acts 12:18 disturbance
  5. Acts 12:20 who was in charge of the king’s bedchamber
  6. Acts 12:20 Lit. nourished
  7. Acts 12:23 breathed his last
  8. Acts 12:25 NU, M to