James Killed, Peter Imprisoned 1 DBY At that time Herod the king laid his hands on some of those of the assembly to do them hurt, BSB BSB: About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
2 DBY and slew James, the brother of John, with the sword. BSB BSB: He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 DBY And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to take Peter also: (and they were 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 DBY whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people. 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 DBY Peter therefore was kept in the prison; but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him. BSB BSB: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
6 DBY And when Herod was going to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door kept 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 DBY And lo, an angel of the Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off 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 DBY And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee 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 DBY And going forth he followed him and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw 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 DBY And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left 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 DBY And Peter, being come to himself, said, Now I know certainly that the Lord has sent forth his angel and has taken me out of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 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 DBY And having become clearly conscious in himself , he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where were many gathered together and 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 DBY And when he had knocked at the door of the entry, a maid came to listen, by name Rhoda; BSB BSB: He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
14 DBY and having recognised the voice of Peter, through joy did not open the entry, but running in, reported that Peter was standing before the entry. 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 DBY And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, 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 DBY But Peter continued knocking: and having 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 DBY And having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went 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 DBY And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter. BSB BSB: At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 DBY And Herod having sought him and not found him, having examined the guards, commanded them to be executed. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and stayed 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 DBY And he was in bitter hostility with the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's chamberlain, sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's. 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 DBY And on a set day, clothed in royal apparel and sitting on the elevated seat of honour , Herod made a public oration to them. BSB BSB: On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.
22 DBY And the people cried out, A god's voice and not a man's. BSB BSB: And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”
23 DBY And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms. 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 DBY But the word of God grew and spread itself. BSB BSB: But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
25 DBY And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the service entrusted to them , taking also with them John, 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.