12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
12:1 About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.

12:2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword;
12:2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

12:3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
12:3 After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)

12:4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
12:4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

12:5 So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
12:5 While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

12:6 The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison;
12:6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.

12:7 and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists.

12:8 And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me."
12:8 The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

12:9 And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
12:9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

12:10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him.
12:10 After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.

12:11 And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12:11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
12:12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.

12:13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
12:13 When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

12:14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate.
12:14 On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.

12:15 They said to her, "You are mad." But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel!"
12:15 They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."

12:16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
12:16 Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed.

12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell this to James and to the brethren." Then he departed and went to another place.
12:17 He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, "Tell this to James and to the believers." Then he left and went to another place.

12:18 Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
12:18 When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

12:19 And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesare'a, and remained there.
12:19 When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then Peter went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

12:20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
12:20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king's country for food.

12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and made an oration to them.
12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them.

12:22 And the people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of man!"
12:22 The people kept shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!"

12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died.
12:23 And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
12:24 But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents.

12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.
12:25 Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.