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Chapter 12 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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| 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. |
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25 | And
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their
ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. |