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Acts / Herod Executes James; Peter Miraculously Freed
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Herod Executes James; Peter Miraculously Freed

Acts 12:1-19

12
Chapter 12
1 At that time Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm them. 2 He killed James the brother of John with a sword. 3 Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. 4 whom he also seized and put in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him before the people. 5 So Peter was being kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was being made to God by the church. 6 When Herod was about to bring him out, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were guarding the prison. 7 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter's side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." 9 And he went out and followed, not knowing that what was happening through the angel was real; but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them on its own, and they went out and passed down one street. Then immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." 12 When he had realized it, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and praying. 13 But when he knocked at the gate door, a servant girl came to answer it—a girl named Rhoda. 14 And recognizing Peter's voice, in their joy they did not open the gate, but rushing in they announced that Peter was standing before the gate. 15 But they said to her, "You're mad." But she insisted it was so. But they were saying, "It is his angel." 16 But Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door, they saw him and were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and the brothers." Then he went out and went to another place. 18 But when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers as to what then had become of Peter. 19 But Herod, having sought him and not found him, examined the guards and ordered them to be led away. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.