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希律王杀雅各囚彼得

12 那时,希律王下手苦害教会中几个人, 用刀杀了约翰的哥哥雅各 他见犹太人喜欢这事,又去捉拿彼得。那时正是除酵的日子。 希律拿了彼得,收在监里,交付四班兵丁看守,每班四个人,意思要在逾越节后把他提出来,当着百姓办他。 于是彼得被囚在监里,教会却为他切切地祷告神。 希律将要提他出来的前一夜,彼得被两条铁链锁着,睡在两个兵丁当中,看守的人也在门外看守。

天使救彼得出监

忽然,有主的一个使者站在旁边,屋里有光照耀。天使拍彼得的肋旁,拍醒了他,说:“快快起来!”那铁链就从他手上脱落下来。 天使对他说:“束上带子,穿上鞋!”他就那样做。天使又说:“披上外衣,跟着我来!” 彼得就出来跟着他,不知道天使所做是真的,只当见了异象。 10 过了第一层、第二层监牢,就来到临街的铁门,那门自己开了。他们出来,走过一条街,天使便离开他去了。 11 彼得醒悟过来,说:“我现在真知道主差遣他的使者,救我脱离希律的手和犹太百姓一切所盼望的。”

述说主怎样领他出监

12 想了一想,就往那称呼马可约翰他母亲马利亚家去,在那里有好些人聚集祷告。 13 彼得敲外门,有一个使女名叫罗大,出来探听。 14 听得是彼得的声音,就欢喜得顾不得开门,跑进去告诉众人说:“彼得站在门外!” 15 他们说:“你是疯了!”使女极力地说:“真是他!”他们说:“必是他的天使。” 16 彼得不住地敲门。他们开了门,看见他,就甚惊奇。 17 彼得摆手不要他们作声,就告诉他们主怎样领他出监,又说:“你们把这事告诉雅各和众弟兄。”于是出去往别处去了。 18 到了天亮,兵丁扰乱得很,不知道彼得往哪里去了。 19 希律找他,找不着,就审问看守的人,吩咐把他们拉去杀了。后来希律离开犹太,下恺撒利亚去,住在那里。

希律受罚被虫咬死

20 希律恼怒推罗西顿的人。他们那一带地方是从王的地土得粮,因此就托了王的内侍臣伯拉斯都的情,一心来求和。 21 希律在所定的日子,穿上朝服,坐在位上,对他们讲论一番。 22 百姓喊着说:“这是神的声音,不是人的声音!” 23 希律不归荣耀给神,所以主的使者立刻罚他,他被虫所咬,气就绝了。

24 神的道日见兴旺,越发广传。

25 巴拿巴扫罗办完了他们供给的事,就从耶路撒冷回来,带着称呼马可约翰同去。

Herod Causes Trouble for the Church

12 At that time King Herod[a] caused terrible suffering for some members of the church. He ordered soldiers to cut off the head of James, the brother of John. (A) When Herod saw that this pleased the Jewish people, he had Peter arrested during the Festival of Thin Bread. He put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after the festival.

While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

Peter Is Rescued

The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”

The chains fell off his hands, and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream. 10 They went past the two groups of soldiers, and when they came to the iron gate to the city, it opened by itself. They went out and were going along the street, when all at once the angel disappeared.

11 Peter now realized what had happened, and he said, “I am certain that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.” 12 Then Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many of the Lord's followers had come together there and were praying.

13 Peter knocked on the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she heard Peter's voice, she was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and said Peter was standing there.

15 “You are crazy!” everyone told her. But she kept saying it was Peter. Then they said, “It must be his angel.”[b] 16 But Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed.

17 Peter motioned for them to keep quiet. Then he told how the Lord had led him out of jail. He also said, “Tell James[c] and the others what has happened.” After that, he left and went somewhere else.

18 The next morning the soldiers who had been on guard were terribly worried and wondered what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod ordered his own soldiers to search for him, but they could not find him. Then he questioned the guards and had them put to death. After this, Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

Herod Dies

20 (B) Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon were very angry with each other. But their country got its food supply from the region that he ruled. So a group of them went to see Blastus, who was one of Herod's high officials. They convinced Blastus that they wanted to make peace between their cities and Herod, 21 and a day was set for them to meet with him.

Herod came dressed in his royal robes. He sat down on his throne and made a speech. 22 The people shouted, “You speak more like a god than a man!” 23 At once an angel from the Lord struck him down because he took the honor that belonged to God. Later, Herod was eaten by worms and died.

24 God's message kept spreading. 25 And after Barnabas and Saul had done the work they were sent to do, they went back to Jerusalem[d] with John, whose other name was Mark.

Footnotes

  1. 12.1 Herod: Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great.
  2. 12.15 his angel: Probably meaning “his guardian angel.”
  3. 12.17 James: The brother of the Lord.
  4. 12.25 went back to Jerusalem: Some manuscripts have “left Jerusalem,” and others have “went to Antioch.”

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.

12 And about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands, to do evil to certain of those of the assembly,

and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,

and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to lay hold of Peter also -- and they were the days of the unleavened food --

whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.

Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him,

and when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, having been bound with two chains, guards also before the door were keeping the prison,

and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having smitten Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, `Rise in haste,' and his chains fell from off [his] hands.

The messenger also said to him, `Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals;' and he did so; and he saith to him, `Put thy garment round and be following me;'

and having gone forth, he was following him, and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision,

10 and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city, which of its own accord did open to them, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him.

11 And Peter having come to himself, said, `Now I have known of a truth that the Lord did sent forth His messenger, and did deliver me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews;'

12 also, having considered, he came unto the house of Mary, the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where there were many thronged together and praying.

13 And Peter having knocked at the door of the porch, there came a damsel to hearken, by name Rhoda,

14 and having known the voice of Peter, from the joy she did not open the porch, but having run in, told of the standing of Peter before the porch,

15 and they said unto her, `Thou art mad;' and she was confidently affirming [it] to be so, and they said, `It is his messenger;'

16 and Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished,

17 and having beckoned to them with the hand to be silent, he declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison, and he said, `Declare to James and to the brethren these things;' and having gone forth, he went on to another place.

18 And day having come, there was not a little stir among the soldiers what then was become of Peter,

19 and Herod having sought for him, and not having found, having examined the guards, did command [them] to be led away to punishment, and having gone down from Judea to Cesarea, he was abiding [there].

20 And Herod was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians, and with one accord they came unto him, and having made a friend of Blastus, who [is] over the bed-chambers of the king, they were asking peace, because of their country being nourished from the king's;

21 and on a set day, Herod having arrayed himself in kingly apparel, and having sat down upon the tribunal, was making an oration unto them,

22 and the populace were shouting, `The voice of a god, and not of a man;'

23 and presently there smote him a messenger of the Lord, because he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten of worms, he expired.

24 And the word of God did grow and did multiply,

25 and Barnabas and Saul did turn back out of Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministration, having taken also with [them] John, who was surnamed Mark.