12
So, after thinking things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying.
13
When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock;
14
and recognizing Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing there.
15
"You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.
16
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement.
17
But he motioned with his hand for silence, and then described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell all this to James and the brethren," he added. Then he left them, and went to another place.
18
When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter.
19
And when Herod had had him searched for and could not find him, after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea and remained there.
20
Now the people of Tyre and Sidon had incurred Herod's violent displeasure. So they sent a large deputation to wait on him; and having secured the good will of Blastus, his treasurer, they begged the king to be friendly with them again, because their country was dependent on his for its food supply.
21
So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;
22
and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"