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James Is Killed and Peter Is Imprisoned

12 About that time King Herod Agrippa[a] began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.[b]) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Greek Herod the king. He was the nephew of Herod Antipas and a grandson of Herod the Great.
  2. 12:3 Greek the days of unleavened bread.

An Angel Frees Peter from Prison

12 About that time, Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church and mistreated them. He even had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword. When he saw how this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter, too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. When he arrested Peter, Herod[a] put him in prison and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning to bring him out to the people after Passover season.[b] So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was being offered by the assembly.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:4 Lit. arrested him, he
  2. Acts 12:4 The Gk. lacks season
  3. Acts 12:5 Or church