1 And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. 2 And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes. 4 And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by 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 an angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And going out, he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision. 10 And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed, 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 considering, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, whose name was Rhode. 14 And as soon as she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished. 17 But he beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and he said: Tell these things to James, and to the brethren. And going out, he went into another place. 18 Now when day was come, 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; having examined the keepers, he commanded they should be put to death; and going down from Judea to Caesarea, he abode there. 20 And he was angry with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. But they with one accord came to him, and having gained Blastus, who was the king’s chamberlain, they desired peace, because their countries were nourished by him. 21 And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat, and made an oration to them. 22 And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And forthwith an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honour to God: and being eaten up by worms, he gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark.
Acts · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Acts 12 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Blastus
The king's chamberlain whom the people of Tyre and Sidon won over to seek peace with Herod.
Cited in the guide: Acts 12:20
Herod
The Herod who killed James the brother of John, arrested Peter, and was struck down by an angel of the Lord when he accepted worship as a god; he was eaten by worms and died.
Cited in the guide: Acts 12:1; Acts 12:21; Acts 12:23
Mary
A Jerusalem believer in whose house many were gathered praying when Peter was released from prison.
Cited in the guide: Acts 12:12
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 24:9; John 15:20; Matthew 10:17–18; Luke 22:53; John 16:2
- 2 Hebrews 11:37; Matthew 20:23; Matthew 4:21–22; Mark 10:38; Mark 10:35
- 3 Exodus 23:15; John 12:43; Acts 24:27; Leviticus 23:6–14; Exodus 12:14–20
- 4 Proverbs 19:21; Luke 22:33; Luke 21:12; John 13:36–38; Acts 4:28
- 5 1 Corinthians 12:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16; Ephesians 6:18–20; 2 Corinthians 1:11
- 6 Hebrews 13:6; Acts 21:33; 1 Samuel 23:26–27; 2 Timothy 1:16; Philippians 4:6–7
- 7 Acts 16:26; Acts 5:19; Psalm 146:7; Psalm 105:18–20; Psalm 142:6–7
- 9 Psalm 126:1; Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 45:26; Acts 26:19; Acts 10:3
- 10 Acts 5:19; Acts 16:26; Isaiah 45:1–2; Numbers 15:34; Genesis 42:17
- 11 Daniel 6:22; Daniel 3:28; 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 34:7; Psalm 33:18
- 12 1 John 5:14–15; Acts 12:5; Matthew 18:19–20; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5
- 13 Luke 13:25; Acts 12:16; John 18:16–17
- 14 Luke 24:41; Matthew 28:8
- 15 Matthew 18:10; Luke 24:37–38; Luke 24:11; Mark 16:14; Acts 26:24
- 17 Acts 21:40; Acts 13:16; Acts 19:33; Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18
- 18 Acts 5:22–25; Acts 16:27; Acts 19:23
- 19 Acts 16:27; John 12:10–11; Psalm 37:32–33; Acts 21:8; 1 Kings 20:43
- 20 Ezra 3:7; Ezekiel 27:17; Matthew 11:21–22; Luke 14:31–32; Luke 16:8
- 22 Acts 14:10–13; Jude 16; Revelation 13:4; Psalm 12:2; Daniel 6:7
- 23 Psalm 115:1; Acts 10:25–26; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Acts 14:14–15; Daniel 4:30–37
- 24 Acts 6:7; Acts 19:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Matthew 16:18; Acts 11:21
- 25 Acts 12:12; Acts 15:37; 1 Peter 5:13; Acts 11:29–30; Acts 4:36
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"At that time," of course meaning the time immediately following: for this is the custom of Scripture. And he well says that Herod "the king" (did this): this was not he of Christ's time.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
Was there not present there amongst those seven, another son of Zebedee, the brother of John, who, after His ascension, is plainly recorded to have been slain by Herod? But some one may say that, as James was not crucified, it was properly enough said to Peter, "Follow me," inasmuch as he underwent not only death, but, like Christ, even …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
… temple at Jerusalem, fire burst out from the foundations, and utterly hindered them all; and when both his treasurer, and his uncle and namesake, made the sacred vessels the subject of their open insolence, the one was "eaten with worms, and gave up the ghost," the other "burst asunder in the midst." Moreover, the fountains failing, when sacrifices were made …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
He delivered Peter, when the Angel came unto him being in prison, and said, "Arise, and go forth," and suddenly his chains were loosed, and he followed the Angel, and He delivered him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)