14
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
15
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
16
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
17
He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.
18
At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.
19
Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
20
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant,
21
and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.
22
The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.