Herod kills James and imprisons Peter. The church prays, and an angel leads Peter out of prison in the night. Herod is struck down after accepting worship as a god, and the word of God grows.
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church .
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword .
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews , he proceeded further to take Peter also .(Then were the days of unleavened bread .)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison , and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him ; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people .
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison : but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him .
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth , the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers , bound with two chains : and the keepers before the door kept the prison .
7 And , behold , the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison : and he smote Peter on the side , and raised him up , saying , Arise up quickly . And his chains fell off from his hands .
8 And the angel said unto him , Gird thyself , and bind on thy sandals . And so he did . And he saith unto him , Cast thy garment about thee , and follow me .
9 And he went out , and followed him ; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel ; but thought he saw a vision .
10 When they were past the first and the second ward , they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city ; which opened to them of his own accord : and they went out , and passed on through one street ; and forthwith the angel departed from him .
11 And when Peter was come to himself , he said , Now I know of a surety , that the Lord hath sent his angel , and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod , and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews .
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John , whose surname was Mark ; where many were gathered together praying .
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate , a damsel came to hearken , named Rhoda .
14 And when she knew Peter's voice , she opened not the gate for gladness , but ran in , and told how Peter stood before the gate .
15 And they said unto her , Thou art mad . But she constantly affirmed that it was even so . Then said they , It is his angel .
16 But Peter continued knocking : and when they had opened the door, and saw him , they were astonished .
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace , declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison . And he said , Go shew these things unto James , and to the brethren . And he departed , and went into another place .
18 Now as soon as it was day , there was no small stir among the soldiers , what was become of Peter .
19 And when Herod had sought for him , and found him not , he examined the keepers , and commanded that they should be put to death . And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea , and there abode .
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon : but they came with one accord to him , and , having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend , desired peace ; because their country was nourished by the king's country.
21 And upon a set day Herod , arrayed in royal apparel , sat upon his throne , and made an oration unto them .
22 And the people gave a shout , saying, It is the voice of a god , and not of a man .
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him , because he gave not God the glory : and he was eaten of worms , and gave up the ghost .
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied .
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem , when they had fulfilled their ministry , and took with them John , whose surname was Mark .