Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church.
1
About that time King Herod devoted his attention to mistreating certain members of the church.
2 And he killed James, the brother of John, With the sword.
2
He had James, the brother of John, executed.
3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes.
3
When he saw how this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4 And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers, to be kept, intending, after the pasach, to bring him forth to the people.
4
After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.
5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very hard to God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
6
The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison.
7 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room. And he, striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands.
7
Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter's side, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At that moment the chains fell from Peter's hands.
8 And the angel said to him: Gird thyself and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee and follow me,
8
The angel told him, "Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!" Peter did this. Then the angel told him, "Put your coat on, and follow me."
9 And going out, he followed him. And he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision.
9
Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn't realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him.
10
They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.
11 And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
11
When Peter came to his senses, he said, "Now I'm sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people are expecting to happen to me."
12 And considering, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.
12
When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered at her home and were praying.
13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken. whose name was Rhode.
13
Peter knocked on the door of the entryway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.
14 And as soon as she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for joy: but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate.
14
When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so happy that instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and reported, "Peter is standing at the door!"
15 But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his angel.
15
The people told her, "You're crazy!" But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, "It has to be his angel."
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.
16
But Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him.
17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison. And he said: Tell these things to James and to the brethren. And going out, he went into another place.
17
Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, "Tell James and the other believers about this." Then he left and went somewhere else.
18 Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
18
In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him and found him not, having examined the keepers, he commanded they should be put to death. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he abode there.
19
Herod searched for Peter but couldn't find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while.
20 And he was angry with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. But they with one accord came to him: and, having gained Blastus who was the king’s chamberlain, they desired peace, because their countries were nourished by him.
20
Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king's living quarters.)
21 And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat and made an oration to them.
21
The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them.
22 And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
22
The people started shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
23 And forthwith an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honour to God: and, being eaten up by worms, he gave up the ghost.
23
Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.
24 But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied.
24
But God's word continued to spread and win many followers.
25 And Barnabas and Saul, returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.
25
After Barnabas and Saul delivered the contribution [to the leaders in Jerusalem], they returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem. They brought John Mark with them.
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