[Acts 12]

 

             {March 44 AD. Jerusalem.}

             ^12:1 Now throughout that time, Herod the king put his hands upon some from the congregation^* to mistreat them. ^12:2 Now he assassinated James the brother of John with a sword, {April 44 AD.} ^12:3 And he saw that it is pleasing to the Jews and also added Peter to take (and they were the Days of Unleavened bread {i.e., Passover}). ^12:4 whom he himself also arrested, and placed Peter in prison and gave him up to four Quarternions of soldiers {i.e., sixteen soldiers} to guard him; planning to lead him out to the people after the Passover.

               ^12:5 Therefore indeed, Peter was being kept in the prison, but intense prayer was happening by the congregation^* to God on his behalf. ^12:6 But when Herod was about to lead him out, in that same night, Peter fell-asleep between two soldiers and has been bound in two chains to them, and guards were guarding the prison before the door. ^12:7 And behold, a messenger of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the cell and he struck Peter on the rib-cage and, he lifted him up, saying, Stand up quickly. And his chains fell from the hands. ^12:8 And the messenger said to him, Gird yourself and tie on your sandals. Now he did^* so. And he says to him, Put your garment around you and follow me. ^12:9 And they went forth, he was following him, and he did not know that this is true^*, the thing happening through the messenger, but he was thinking to be seeing a vision. ^12:10 Now they went through the first and second prison, and came upon the iron gate the one bringing them into the city; which was opened by itself for them, and they went forth and went forward one lane, and immediately the messenger withdrew from him.

             ^12:11 And Peter, came^* to himself, and said, Now I truly know, that the Lord sent his messenger out and liberated me out-of the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Jews. ^12:12 he was conscious of it and came upon the house of Mary the mother of John the one being surnamed Mark, where a considerable number were accumulating together and were praying. ^12:13 Now after Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maidservant, Rhoda by name, came near to listen to who was there. ^12:14 and she recognized the voice of Peter and from the joy did not open the gate, but she ran in and reported Peter to be standing before the gate.

             ^12:15 But they said to her, You are insane.

             But she was stoutly affirming to have this so.

             And they were saying, It is his messenger.

             ^12:16 But Peter was remaining and kept knocking. Now after they opened the door, they saw him and were astonished. ^12:17 But he beckoned to them with the hand to be silent and described to them how the Lord had led him out-of the prison. Now he said, Report^° these things to James and to the brethren. And he went forth and traveled to a different place. ^12:18 Now when it became day, there was not just a small disturbance among the soldiers, as to what then happened to Peter. ^12:19 Now Herod sought him and did not find him, and examined the guards. He commanded them to be led away for execution. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was staying there.

 

             {Around May 44 AD. Caesarea. Herod Agrippa dies. Palestine reunited to Rome.}

             ^12:20 Now Herod was quarreling furiously with those from Tyre and Sidon. But they were united here with him, and persuaded Blastus, the one over the king’s bedroom, and they were asking for peace, because the nourishing of their region is from the king’s region. ^12:21 Now on an appointed day, Herod clothed himself in royal apparel, and sat upon the judicial-seat, and he was publicly addressing them. ^12:22 Now the public was shouting out, saying, This is a voice of a god and not of a man! ^12:23 But instantly a messenger of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory and after he became maggot-eaten, he expired.

             ^12:24 But the word of God was growing and being multiplied.

 

             {Spring 44 AD. Antioch to Jerusalem back to Antioch (Acts 11:30), sending relief.}

             ^12:25 Now Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, after they fulfilled the service. They took together-with them also John, who was surnamed Mark.