12
As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.
13
When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
14
On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.
15
They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."
16
Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed.
17
He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, "Tell this to James and to the believers." Then he left and went to another place.
18
When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
19
When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
21
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them.
22
The people kept shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!"