13
Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
14
When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, "Peter is at the door!"
15
They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, "It must be Peter's angel."
16
Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
17
Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, "Tell James and the other believers what happened." Then he left to go to another place.
18
The next day the soldiers were very upset and wondered what had happened to Peter.
19
Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed. Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed.
20
Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king's personal servant, to be on their side, they asked Herod for peace, because their country got its food from his country.
21
On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people.
22
They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not a human!"
23
Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died.