| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. | 1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. |
| 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. | 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. |
| 3And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. | 3When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. |
| 4He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. | 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. |
| 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. | 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. |
| 6On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. | 6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. |
| 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. | 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. |
| 8“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” | 8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. |
| 9So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. | 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. |
| 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him. | 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. |
| 11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” | 11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen." |
| 12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. | 12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. |
| 13He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. | 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. |
| 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!” | 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" |
| 15“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” | 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." |
| 16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. | 16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. |
| 17Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place. | 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this," he said, and then he left for another place. |
| 18At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. | 18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. |
| 19After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there. | 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. |
| 20Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food. | 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; 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. |
| 21On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. | 21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. |
| 22And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” | 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." |
| 23Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. | 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. |
| 24But the word of God continued to spread and multiply. | 24But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. |
| 25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark. | 25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. |
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