Book of Common Prayer
During This Time, King Herod Kills The Apostle James And Imprisons Peter
12 And about that time, Herod[a] the king put hands on some of the ones from the church to mistreat them. 2 And he killed James[b], the brother of John, with a sword. 3 And having seen that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also (now the days of the Feast of Unleavened-Bread were taking place)— 4 whom indeed having seized, he put into prison, having handed him over to four squads[c] of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him up to the people after the Passover [Feast]. 5 So indeed Peter was being kept in the prison. And prayer was fervently being made by the church to God for him.
An Angel Releases Peter
6 And when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, having been bound with two chains. And guards in front of the door were keeping-watch-over the prison. 7 And behold— an angel of the Lord stood near, and light[d] shined in the cell. And having struck the side of Peter, he woke him, saying, “Arise quickly”. And his chains fell off of his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird-yourself [e] and tie-on your sandals”. And he did so. And he says to him, “Put-on your cloak and be following me”. 9 And having gone forth, he was following. And he did not know that the thing taking place by-means-of the angel was real, but he was thinking that he was seeing a vision. 10 And having gone through a first guard-post[f] and a second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which by-itself was opened for them. And having gone out, they went ahead one lane[g], and immediately the angel departed from him.
Peter Goes To The House of The Mother of John Mark, Where They Were Praying
11 And Peter, having become within[h] himself, said, “Now I know truly that the Lord sent-out His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews”. 12 And having become-aware[i], he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (the one being called Mark), where there were many assembled-together and praying. 13 And he having knocked-on the door of the gate, a servant-girl went to it to answer— Rhoda by name. 14 And having recognized the voice of Peter, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but having run in, she reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 But the ones said to her, “You are mad[j]”. But the one was insisting that it was holding so. But the ones were saying, “It is his angel”. 16 But Peter was continuing-on knocking. And having opened, they saw him and were astonished. 17 And having motioned to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James[k] and the brothers”. And having gone out, he proceeded to another place.
You Are Slaves of Sin. If The Son Sets You Free, You Will Truly Be Free
33 They responded to Him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and to no one have we ever been slaves[a]. How is it You say that ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you that everyone doing[b] sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever. The son remains forever. 36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will really[c] be free. 37 I know that you are the seed of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill Me, because My word is not advancing[d] in you. 38 I am speaking the things which I have seen with My[e] Father. And you therefore are doing[f] the things which you heard from your father”.
You Are Doing The Works of Your Father, Not Abraham
39 They responded and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham”. Jesus says to them, “If you are children of Abraham, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now[g] you are seeking to kill Me— a man Who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father”.
If God Were Your Father, You Would Be Loving Me. Your Father Is The Devil
So they said to Him, “We have not been born out of sexuality-immorality; we have one father— God”. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would be loving Me, for I came-forth and am-here from God. For I have not even come of Myself, but that One sent Me forth. 43 For what reason are you not understanding My speaking? It is because you are not able to hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil. And you are wanting[h] to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and was not standing[i] in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks the lie[j], he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I am speaking the truth, you are not believing Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me concerning sin? If I am speaking truth, for what reason are you not believing Me? 47 The one being of [k] God hears the words of God. For this reason you are not hearing— because you are not of God”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing