Acts 12 : 1 (NLT)
About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church.
Acts 12 : 2 (NLT)
He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword.
Acts 12 : 3 (NLT)
When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.)
Acts 12 : 4 (NLT)
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.
Acts 12 : 5 (NLT)
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Acts 12 : 6 (NLT)
The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.
Acts 12 : 7 (NLT)
Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists.
Acts 12 : 8 (NLT)
Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.
Acts 12 : 9 (NLT)
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening.
Acts 12 : 10 (NLT)
They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
Acts 12 : 11 (NLT)
Peter finally came to his senses. "It's really true!" he said. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!"
Acts 12 : 12 (NLT)
When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.
Acts 12 : 13 (NLT)
He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.
Acts 12 : 14 (NLT)
When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"
Acts 12 : 15 (NLT)
"You're out of your mind!" they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."
Acts 12 : 16 (NLT)
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
Acts 12 : 17 (NLT)
He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place.
Acts 12 : 18 (NLT)
At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.
Acts 12 : 19 (NLT)
Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
Acts 12 : 20 (NLT)
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod's country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod's personal assistant,
Acts 12 : 21 (NLT)
and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.
Acts 12 : 22 (NLT)
The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It's the voice of a god, not of a man!"
Acts 12 : 23 (NLT)
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
Acts 12 : 24 (NLT)
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.
Acts 12 : 25 (NLT)
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them.
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