1At that time Herod the king laid hands on some from the assembly in order to harm them.2He killed James the brother of John with a sword.3When he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. It was the days of unleavened bread.4After arresting him he placed him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover lamb to lead him out to the people.5So Peter was kept in prison, while prayer was being made fervently by the assembly to God for him.6On the night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were keeping watch before the door of the prison.7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.8The angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then the angel told him, "Put on your clothing and follow me."9Peter went out and followed him, but he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real. He thought he was seeing a vision.10They passed the first prison post and the second and came to the iron gate that leads into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went out and proceeded down one lane, when suddenly the angel departed from him.11When Peter came to himself he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."12He went to the house of Mary the mother of John called Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.13When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.14She recognized Peter's voice, and in her joy she did not open the gate but ran inside and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.15They said to her, "You are raving." But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."16Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door they saw him and were astonished.17Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he went out and went to another place.18When day came there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.19Herod sought after him, and when he did not find him he examined the guards and ordered them to be led away. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and remained there.