Chapter 12

  Now about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to oppress some of the assembly.  

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  He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.  

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  When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.  

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  When he had captured him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.  

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  Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.  

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  The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.  

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  Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, 'Stand up quickly!' His chains fell off from his hands.  

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  The angel said to him, 'Put on your clothes, and tie on your sandals.' He did so. He said to him, 'Wrap your cloak around you, and follow me.'  

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  He went out, and followed him. He didn't know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.  

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  When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.  

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  When Peter had come to himself, he said, 'Now I truly know that the Lord has sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.'  

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  Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.  

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  When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.  

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  When she recognized Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter stood before the gate.  

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  They said to her, 'You are crazy!' But she insisted that it was so. They said, 'It is his angel.'  

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  But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.  

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  But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. He said, 'Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.' He departed, and went to another place.  

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  Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.  

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  When Herod had sought for him, and didn't find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.  

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  Now Herod was highly displeased with those of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's chamberlain, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.  

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  On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.  

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  The people shouted, 'The voice of a god, and not of a man!'  

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  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms, and he died.  

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  But the word of God grew and multiplied.  

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  Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.  

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