7
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell; and, striking Peter on the side, he woke him and said, "Rise quickly." Instantly the chains dropped off his wrists.
8
"Fasten your girdle," said the angel, "and tie on your sandals." He did so. Then the angel said, "Throw your cloak round you, and follow me."
9
So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision.
10
And passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. This opened to them of itself; and, going out, they passed on through one of the streets, and then suddenly the angel left him.
11
Peter coming to himself said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."
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.