James Killed, Peter Imprisoned 1 CPDV Now at the same time, king Herod extended his hand, in order to afflict some from the Church. BSB BSB: About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
2 CPDV Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. BSB BSB: He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 CPDV And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he set out next to apprehend Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread. BSB BSB: And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
4 CPDV So when he had apprehended him, he sent him into prison, handing him over into the custody of four groups of four soldiers, intending to produce him to the people after the Passover. BSB BSB: He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
The Rescue of Peter 5 CPDV And so Peter was detained in prison. But prayers were being made without ceasing, by the Church, to God on his behalf. BSB BSB: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
6 CPDV And when Herod was ready to produce him, in that same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, and was bound with two chains. And there were guards in front of the door, guarding the prison. BSB BSB: On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
7 CPDV And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near, and a light shined forth in the cell. And tapping Peter on the side, he awakened him, saying, “Rise up, quickly.” And the chains fell from his hands. BSB BSB: Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.
8 CPDV Then the Angel said to him: “Dress yourself, and put on your boots.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.” BSB BSB: “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 CPDV And going out, he followed him. And he did not know this truth: that this was being done by an Angel. For he thought that he was seeing a vision. BSB BSB: So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.
10 CPDV And passing by the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city; and it opened for them by itself. And departing, they continued on along a certain side street. And suddenly the Angel withdrew from him. BSB BSB: They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.
11 CPDV And Peter, returning to himself, said: “Now I know, truly, that the Lord sent his Angel, and that he rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews were anticipating.” BSB BSB: Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
12 CPDV And as he was considering this, he arrived at the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered and were praying. BSB BSB: And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
13 CPDV Then, as he knocked at the door of the gate, a girl went out to answer, whose name was Rhoda. BSB BSB: He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
14 CPDV And when she recognized the voice of Peter, out of joy, she did not open the gate, but instead, running in, she reported that Peter stood before the gate. BSB BSB: When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”
15 CPDV But they said to her, “You are crazy.” But she reaffirmed that this was so. Then they were saying, “It is his angel.” BSB BSB: “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 CPDV But Peter was persevering in knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished. BSB BSB: But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
17 CPDV But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained how the Lord had led him away from prison. And he said, “Inform James and those brothers.” And going out, he went away to another place. BSB BSB: Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
18 CPDV Then, when daylight came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had happened concerning Peter. BSB BSB: At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 CPDV And when Herod had requested him and did not obtain him, having had the guards interrogated, he ordered them led away. And descending from Judea into Caesarea, he lodged there. BSB BSB: After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.
The Death of Herod 20 CPDV Now he was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord, and, having persuaded Blastus, who was over the bedchamber of the king, they petitioned for peace, because their regions were supplied with food by him. BSB BSB: Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
21 CPDV Then, on the appointed day, Herod was clothed in kingly apparel, and he sat in the judgment seat, and he gave a speech to them. BSB BSB: On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.
22 CPDV Then the people were crying out, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” BSB BSB: And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”
23 CPDV And immediately, an Angel of the Lord struck him down, because he had not given honor to God. And having been consumed by worms, he expired. BSB BSB: Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 CPDV But the word of the Lord was increasing and multiplying. BSB BSB: But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
25 CPDV Then Barnabas and Saul, having completed the ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, who was surnamed Mark. BSB BSB: When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.