1Nowaboutthat timeHerodthe kinglaidhandson somewhobelongedto the churchin order to mistreatthem.2And he had Jamesthe brotherof Johnput to deathwith a sword.3When he sawthat it pleasedthe Jews,he proceededto arrestPeteralso.Nowit was during the daysof UnleavenedBread.4When he had seizedhim, he puthim in prison,deliveringhim to foursquadsof soldiersto guardhim, intendingafterthe Passoverto bringhim out before the people.5SoPeterwas keptin the prison,but prayerfor him was being madeferventlyby the churchto God.
6On the verynightwhenHerodwas aboutto bring him forward,Peterwas sleepingbetweentwosoldiers,boundwith twochains,and guardsin frontof the doorwere watching overthe prison.7And behold,an angelof the Lordsuddenly appearedand a lightshonein the cell;and he struckPeter'ssideand wokehim up, saying,"Getup quickly."And his chainsfell offhis hands.8And the angelsaidto him, "Girdyourself and puton your sandals."And he didso.And he saidto him, "Wrapyour cloakaroundyou and followme."9And he wentout and continued to follow,and he did not knowthat what was being doneby the angelwas real,but thoughthe was seeinga vision.10When they had passedthe firstand secondguard,they cameto the irongatethat leadsinto the city,whichopenedfor them by itself;and they wentout and went alongonestreet,and immediatelythe angeldepartedfrom him.11When Petercameto himself,he said,"NowI knowfor surethat the Lordhas sent forthHis angeland rescuedme from the handof Herodand from allthat the Jewishpeoplewere expecting."12And when he realized[this], he wentto the houseof Mary,the motherof Johnwho was also calledMark,wheremanywere gathered togetherand were praying.13When he knockedat the doorof the gate,a servant-girlnamedRhodacameto answer.14When she recognizedPeter'svoice,becauseof her joyshe did not openthe gate,but ranin and announcedthat Peterwas standingin frontof the gate.15They saidto her, "You are out of your mind!"But she kept insistingthat it was so.They kept saying,"It is his angel."16But Petercontinuedknocking;and when they had opened[the door], they sawhim and were amazed.17But motioningto them with his handto be silent,he describedto them howthe Lordhad ledhim out of the prison.And he said,"Reportthese thingsto Jamesand the brethren."Thenhe leftand wentto anotherplace.
18Nowwhen daycame,there was nosmalldisturbanceamongthe soldiers[as to] whatcould have becomeof Peter.19When Herodhad searchedfor him and had not foundhim, he examinedthe guardsand orderedthat they be led away[to execution]. Thenhe went downfrom Judeato Caesareaand was spending timethere.
20Nowhe was very angrywith the people of Tyreand Sidon;and with one accordthey cameto him, and having won overBlastusthe king'schamberlain,they were askingfor peace,becausetheir countrywas fedby the king'scountry.21On an appointeddayHerod,having puton his royalapparel,took his seaton the rostrumand [began] delivering an addressto them.22The peoplekept cryingout, "The voiceof a godand not of a man!"23And immediatelyan angelof the Lordstruckhim becausehe did not giveGodthe glory,and he was eaten by wormsand died.
24But the wordof the Lordcontinued to growand to be multiplied.
25And Barnabasand Saulreturnedfrom Jerusalemwhen they had fulfilledtheir mission,taking alongwith [them] John,who was also calledMark.
