Acts 12:1-10

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.

2 He killed ¹James the brother of John ²with the sword,

3 and when he saw ³that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ⁴the days of Unleavened Bread.

4 And when he had seized him, he put him ⁵in prison, delivering him over to four ⁶squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest ⁷prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter Is Rescued

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ⁸bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

7 And behold, ⁹an angel of the Lord ¹⁰stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. ¹¹He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And ¹²the chains fell off his hands.

8 And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and ¹³put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but ¹⁴thought he was seeing a vision.

10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. ¹⁵It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.