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 Judæa to Cæsarea, 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.
Hērods nokauj Jēkabu un apcietina Pēteri
1 Tajā laikā Hērods pacēla savu roku, lai vajātu dažus no draudzes. 2 Viņš ar zobenu nokāva Jēkabu, Jāņa brāli. 3 Redzēdams, ka jūdiem tas patīk, viņš saņēma arī Pēteri – tās bija Neraudzētās maizes dienas – 4 un, Pēteri sagrābis, lika iemest viņu cietumā un pavēlēja to apsargāt četrām kareivju nodaļām – pa četriem katrā. Pēc Pashas svētkiem viņš gribēja to vest tautas priekšā. 5 Kamēr Pēteris tika turēts cietumā, draudze nemitējās dedzīgi lūgt par viņu Dievu.
Pēteri atbrīvo no cietuma
6 Naktī, pirms Hērods gribēja viņu vest tautas priekšā, Pēteris, divām ķēdēm saistīts, gulēja starp diviem kareivjiem, un cietumsargi stāvēja sardzē pie durvīm. 7 Un, redzi, Kunga eņģelis nostājās blakus, un gaisma apspīdēja visu telpu. Eņģelis, piebakstījis Pēterim sānos, modināja to, sacīdams: “Celies ātri!” Un ķēdes nokrita no viņa rokām. 8 Eņģelis sacīja: “Sajozies un apauj sandales!” Un viņš tā darīja. Tad eņģelis saka viņam: “Apvelc virsdrēbes un nāc man līdzi!” 9 Viņš izgāja tam līdzi, bet nesaprata, ka notikums ar eņģeli ir īstenība. Viņam šķita, ka redz parādību. 10 Izgājuši cauri pirmajai sardzei un cauri otrajai, viņi iznāca pie dzelzs vārtiem, kas ved uz pilsētu, un tie viņiem atvērās paši no sevis. Kad viņi bija nogājuši vienu kvartālu, eņģelis pēkšņi viņu pameta. 11 Pēteris atguvies sacīja: “Tagad es patiesi zinu, ka Kungs ir sūtījis savu eņģeli un izrāvis mani no Hēroda rokām un no visa tā, uz ko gaidīja jūdi.” 12 To apzinājies, viņš devās uz Marijas māju, kas piederēja Jāņa, saukta arī par Marku, mātei. Tur bija sapulcējušies daudzi ļaudis un lūdza Dievu. 13 Viņš pieklauvēja, un pie vārtu durtiņām pienāca kalpone, vārdā Rode, lai apjautātos, kas tur ir. 14 Pazinusi Pētera balsi, viņa, vārtus neatvērusi, priecīga ieskrēja iekšā un paziņoja, ka pie vārtiem stāv Pēteris. 15 Bet tie viņai sacīja: “Tu esi jukusi!” Taču viņa neatlaidās – tā tiešām esot. Tad viņi sacīja: “Tas ir viņa eņģelis.” 16 Bet Pēteris joprojām klauvēja. Tie, atvēruši durvis, ieraudzīja viņu un pārbijās. 17 Mādams ar roku, lai viņi apklust, viņš izstāstīja tiem, kā Kungs izvedis viņu no cietuma. Tad viņš piekodināja: “Pavēstiet to Jēkabam un brāļiem!” – un devās prom uz citu vietu. 18 Iestājoties dienai, starp kareivjiem izcēlās liels sajukums – kas noticis ar Pēteri. 19 Bet Hērods, atnācis pēc viņa un neatradis, nopratināja sargus un pavēlēja tos sodīt ar nāvi. Pēc tam viņš devās prom no Jūdejas un palika Cēzarejā.
Hēroda nāve
20 Hērodam bija dusmas uz tīriešiem un sidoniešiem. Tie vienprātīgi ieradās pie viņa un, noskaņojuši sev par labu ķēniņa kambarkungu Blastu, lūdza mieru, jo to zemes pārtika no ķēniņa zemēm. 21 Noliktajā dienā Hērods, tērpies ķēnišķās drānās, apsēdās tronī un tautas priekšā tos uzrunāja, 22 un tauta sauca: “Tā ir Dieva balss, nevis cilvēka!” 23 Un tūdaļ Kunga eņģelis viņu sita, jo viņš nebija pagodinājis Dievu, un, tārpu saēsts, viņš nomira. 24 Bet Dieva vārds auga un izplatījās. 25 Barnaba un Sauls, pabeiguši savu kalpošanu, atgriezās no Jeruzālemes, sev līdzi paņēmuši Jāni, sauktu arī Marks.
