Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

1 Now about that time 1Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them.

2 And he ahad James the brother of John bput to death with a sword.

3 When he saw that it apleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now 1it was during bthe days of Unleavened Bread.

4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four 1asquads of soldiers to guard him, intending after bthe Passover to bring him out before the people.

5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

6 On 1the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, abound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

7 And behold, aan angel of the Lord suddenly bappeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And chis chains fell off his hands.

8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and 1put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he * said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing aa vision.

10 When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which aopened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 When Peter acame 1to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that bthe Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all 2that the Jewish people were expecting.”