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Now on [a]the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, (A)bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, (B)an angel of the Lord suddenly (C)appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Rise up quickly.” And (D)his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and [b]put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.” And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing (E)a vision. 10 And when they had passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which (F)opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter (G)came [c]to himself, he said, “Now truly I know that (H)the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all [d]that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of (I)John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and (J)were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, (K)a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 And when she recognized Peter’s voice, (L)because of her joy she did not open the gate. But she ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 And they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is (M)his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were astounded. 17 But (N)motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he recounted to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to (O)James and (P)the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what [e]had become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they (Q)be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to (R)Caesarea and was spending time there.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:6 Lit that night
  2. Acts 12:8 Lit bind
  3. Acts 12:11 Lit in himself
  4. Acts 12:11 Lit the expectation of the people of the Jews
  5. Acts 12:18 Lit therefore had become

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains, while sentries were in front of the door, guarding the prison.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood near him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel woke Peter up by striking him on the side, saying, “Quick, get up!” The chains fell from his wrists.

Then the angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” So he did so. Then the angel told him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” Peter went out, following the angel, but he did not realize that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed through the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. It opened all by itself for them. They went outside, walked down one street, and immediately the angel left him.

11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who is also called Mark. Many had gathered there and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the entrance gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice and was so overjoyed, she did not open the gate. Instead she ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

15 They told her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept on insisting it was so, and they started saying, “It’s his angel.”

16 Meanwhile, Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned to them with his hand to be silent and described to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he left and went on to another place.

18 At daybreak, there was no small commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

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