ACTS Chapter 12 - Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison

Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison

It was about this time that King Herod

Arrested some who belonged to the Church,

2 He had James, the brother of John,

Put to Death with the Sword.

3 When he saw tht this pleased the Jews,

He proceeded to seize Peter also.

This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

4 After arresting him,

He pit 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 Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in Prison,

BUT THE CHURCH WAS EARNESTLY PRAYING TO GOD FOR HIM.

6 The 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.

7 SUDDENLY AND 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 OF PETER'S WRISTS.

8 Then 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.

9 Peter 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.

10 They 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.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said,

'NOW I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT

THT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL

AND RESUCED ME FROM HEROD'S CLUTCHES

AND FROM EVERYTING

THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE ANTICIPATING.'

12 When 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.

13 Peter knocked at the Outer Entrance,

And a servant girl named Rhoda

Came to answer the door.

14 When she recognized Peter's voice,

She was so Overjoyed

She ran back without opening it

And Exclaimed,

'PETER IS AT THE DOOR!'

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.'

16 But Peter kept knocking,

And when they opened the door and saw him,

THEY WERE ASTONISHED.

17 Peter motioned with his hand

For them to be quiet

And described how the Lord

Had brought him out of Prison.

'Tell James and the Brothers about this,'

He said,

And then he left for another place.

18 In the Morning,

THERE WAS A GREAT COMMOTION AMONG THE SOLDIERS

'WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO PETER?'

They asked.

19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him

And did not find him,

He cross-examined the guards

And ordered that they be Executed.

Herod's Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea

And stayed there a while.

20 He had been Quarreling

With the people of Tyre and Sidon;

They joined together

And sought an Audience with him.

Having Secured 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.

21 On the Appointed Day Herod

Wearing his Royal Robes,

Sat on his Throne

And delivered a Public Address to the people.

22 They shouted,

'THIS IS THE VOICE OF A GOD,

NOT OF A MAN.'

23 IMMEDIATELY,

BECAUSE HEROD DID NOT GIVE PRAISE TO GOD,

AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM DOWN,

AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED.

24 BUT THE WORD OF GOD

CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND SPREAD.

25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their Mission,

They returned from Jerusalem,

Taking with them John, also called Mark.

(Acts 12)