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
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
Peter knocked on the door of the entryway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.
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
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 kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him.
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
In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter.
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
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
The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them.