Dual Panel1IT was at this time that King Herod made a violent attack on some of the Church members.
2James, John's brother, he executed with the sword,
3and when he found this action pleased the Jews he went on to arrest peter as well. It was during the days of unleavened breed that he actually made the arrest.
4He put Peter in prison with no less than four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
5So Peter was closely guarded in the prison, while the Church prayed to God earnestly on his behalf.
6On the very night that Herod was planning to bring him out, Peter was asleep between two soldiers, secured by double chains, while guards maintained a strict watch at the doorway of the prison.
7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." His chains fell away from his hands
8and the angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." And he did so. Then the angel continued, "Wrap your cloak round you and follow me."
9So Peter followed him out, not knowing whether what the angel was doing were realindeed he felt he must be seeing a vision.
10They passed right through the first and second guardpoints and came to the iron gate that led out into the city. This opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and had passed along one street when the angel suddenly vanished from Peter's sight.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel to rescue me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12As the truth broke upon him he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together in prayer.
13As he knocked at the outer door a young maid called Rhoda came to answer it,
14but on recognizing Peter's voice failed to open the door from sheer joy. Instead she ran inside and reported that Peter was standing outside.
15At this they said to her, "You must be mad!" But she insisted that it was true. Then they said, "Then it is his angel."
16But Peter continued to stand there knocking on the door, and when they opened it they saw him and were simply amazed.
17Peter, however, made a gesture to them to stop talking while he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Then he said, "Go and tell James and the other brothers what has happened." After this he left the house and went on to another place.
18But when morning came there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have happened to Peter.
19When Herod had had a search put out for him without success, he crossexamined the guards and then ordered their execution. Then he left Judaea and went down to Caesarea and stayed there.
20Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They approached him in a body and after winning over Blastus the king's chamberlain, they begged him for peace, for their country's food supply was dependent on the king's lands.
21So on an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the public throne and made a speech to them.
22At this the people kept shouting. "This is a god speaking, not a mere man!"
23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24But the Word of the Lord continued to gain ground and increase its influence.
25Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission there, bringing with them to Antioch John whose surname was Mark.