Acts 12:1–10
Herod’s Violence to the Church
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James athe brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during bthe Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So cwhen he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four 1squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but 2constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were 3keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, dan angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and edid not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought fhe was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, gwhich opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.