雅各殉道,彼得被囚

12 大約在此時,希律王下手虐待教會中的一些人, 用刀殺了約翰的哥哥[a]雅各 他見這事使猶太人高興,就又去抓彼得;那時正是除酵節期間。 希律抓了彼得,把他關進監獄,交給四班士兵看守,每班四個人,打算在逾越節以後把他提到民眾面前審判[b] 這樣,彼得被拘留在監獄裡,教會卻為他熱切地向神禱告。

彼得獲救

希律要把彼得提出來審判[c]的前一夜,彼得被兩條鐵鏈捆鎖,睡在兩個士兵中間,又有一些衛兵在監獄門前看守著。 忽然主的一位天使站在旁邊,牢房裡有光照耀。天使拍拍彼得的肋旁,叫醒他,說:「趕快起來!」那些鐵鏈立刻就從彼得的手上掉了下來。 天使對他說:「束上腰帶,穿上鞋子!」他就照著做了。天使又說:「披上外衣,跟著我!」 彼得就出來跟著走,卻不知道天使所做的是真的,以為自己是見了異象。 10 他們經過第一和第二道崗,來到通往城裡的鐵門前,鐵門就自動為他們開了。他們出去,走過一條街,天使立刻離開了他。

11 這時候,彼得清醒過來,說:「現在我確實知道主派了他的天使來,救我脫離希律的手和猶太民眾所期待的一切事。」 12 他明白之後,就到約翰的母親瑪麗亞家去,這約翰又叫馬可。有許多人聚集在那裡禱告。 13 彼得敲了外面的門,一個叫羅妲的女僕前來應門。 14 她一認出是彼得的聲音,就高興得顧不上打開門,跑進去告訴大家說,彼得站在門外。

15 他們對羅妲說:「你瘋了!」可是她堅持就是如此。他們不住地說:「那是他的天使。」 16 這時,彼得不停地敲門。他們就打開了門,看見是他,都十分驚訝。

17 彼得揮一下手叫他們安靜,告訴他們主怎樣領他出了監獄,又說:「你們把這些事告訴雅各和弟兄們。」然後他就出發,往別的地方去了。

18 到天亮,士兵們中間起了不小的騷動,不知道彼得出了什麼事。 19 希律搜尋彼得,卻沒有找到,就審問衛兵們,下令把他們處決了。後來希律離開猶太,下到凱撒里亞去,住在那裡。

希律之死

20 當時,希律一直惱恨提爾西頓的人。所以他們聯合起來到王那裡去,先說服了王的內臣布拉斯托,然後向王求和,因為他們地區的人是從王的領地[d]得糧食的。 21 在指定的日子,希律穿上王袍,坐在審判席上,向他們公開演說。 22 民眾一直喊叫:「這是神的聲音,不是人的聲音。」 23 主的一位天使立刻擊打希律,因為他沒有把榮耀歸給神。他被蟲咬蝕,就斷了氣。 24 於是神的話語[e]不斷擴展[f],越發廣傳。 25 巴拿巴掃羅完成了那服事的工作[g],就帶著那稱為馬可約翰,從耶路撒冷回去了[h]

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 12:2 哥哥——原文直譯「兄弟」。
  2. 使徒行傳 12:4 審判——輔助詞語。
  3. 使徒行傳 12:6 審判——輔助詞語。
  4. 使徒行傳 12:20 領地——輔助詞語。
  5. 使徒行傳 12:24 神的話語——或譯作「神的道」。
  6. 使徒行傳 12:24 擴展——原文直譯「生長」。
  7. 使徒行傳 12:25 服事的工作——或譯作「供應的事」。
  8. 使徒行傳 12:25 從耶路撒冷回去了——有古抄本作「回到耶路撒冷去了」。

雅各殉道,彼得被囚

12 那時,希律王下手苦害教會中的幾個人, 用刀殺了約翰的哥哥雅各。 他見這事博得了猶太人的歡心,就在除酵節期間,再次捉拿彼得。 捉到了,就把他關在監裡,交給四班士兵看守,每班四個人,打算過了逾越節,把他提出來交給民眾。 彼得就這樣被拘留在監裡;但教會卻為他迫切地祈求 神。

天使救彼得出監

希律要提他出來的前一夜,彼得被兩條鎖鍊鎖住,睡在兩個士兵中間,還有衛兵守在門前。 忽然,有主的一位使者出現,牢房裡就光芒四射。天使拍拍彼得的肋旁,喚醒他,說:“快起來!”他手上的鎖鍊就脫落了。 天使對他說:“束上帶子,穿上鞋!”他就這樣作了。天使又說:“披上外衣,跟我走!” 他就出來跟著天使走,但他不知道天使所作的事是真的,還以為是見了異象。 10 他們經過第一、第二兩個崗位,來到通往城內的鐵門,那門自動給他們開了。他們出來,往前走了一條街,天使立刻離開了他。 11 彼得清醒過來,說:“現在我確實知道,主差他的天使來,救我脫離希律的手和猶太人所期望的一切。” 12 他明白了之後,就到約翰(別名馬可)的母親馬利亞家裡去;有許多人聚集在那裡禱告。 13 彼得敲了大門,有一個名叫羅大的使女,出來應門。 14 她認出是彼得的聲音,歡喜到顧不得開門,就跑進去報告,說彼得站在門外。 15 大家說:“你瘋了!”她卻堅持地說這是真的。他們說:“一定是他的天使。” 16 彼得繼續敲門;他們打開了,一見是他,就非常驚訝。 17 彼得作了一個手勢,要他們安靜,然後對他們述說主怎樣領他出監,又說:“你們把這些事告訴雅各和眾弟兄。”就離開那裡,到別的地方去了。

18 天亮的時候,士兵們非常慌亂,不知彼得出了甚麼事。 19 希律搜索他,卻找不到,就審問衛兵,下令把他們帶出去處死。後來希律離開猶太,到該撒利亞去,住在那裡。

希律被 神擊打

20 當時希律對推羅和西頓人懷怒在心。這兩地的人因為他們的地區都需要從王的領土得到糧食,就先拉攏了王的內侍臣伯拉斯都,然後同心地去見希律,要向他求和。 21 到了定好的日期,希律穿上王服,坐在高臺上,向他們演講。 22 群眾大聲說:“這是 神的聲音,不是人的聲音!” 23 他不歸榮耀給 神,所以主的使者立刻擊打他,他被蟲咬,就斷了氣。

24  神的道日漸興旺,越發廣傳。 25 巴拿巴和掃羅完成了送交捐項的任務,就帶著名叫馬可的約翰,從耶路撒冷回來。

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