12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,(A) where many people had gathered and were praying.(B) 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.(C) 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed(D) she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”(E)

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand(F) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James(G) and the other brothers and sisters(H) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.(I)

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea(J) and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon;(K) they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.(L)

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel(M) of the Lord struck him down,(N) and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God(O) continued to spread and flourish.(P)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

25 When Barnabas(Q) and Saul had finished their mission,(R) they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 12:25 Some manuscripts to

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