James Martyred and Peter Jailed
1 About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church,
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and he killed James, John's brother, with the sword.
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When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.
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After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
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So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.
Peter Rescued
6 On the night before Herod was to bring him out [for execution], Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.
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Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, "Quick, get up!" Then the chains fell off his wrists.
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"Get dressed," the angel told him, "and put on your sandals." And he did so. "Wrap your cloak around you," he told him, "and follow me."
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So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.