1 Now during that time Herod the king {Herodes: ruling monarch} laid hands on some from the church {ekklesia: called-out assembly} to harm them.
2 But he killed James {Iakobos: apostolic witness}, the brother of John, with a sword {machaira: execution weapon}.
3 But when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews {Ioudaioi: local Jewish community}, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread {azymon: Passover week festival}.
4 After he had seized him, he placed him in prison {phylake: secure custody} and assigned him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning after the Passover {pascha: deliverance feast} to bring him out before the people.
5 Peter was being held in prison, while the church kept offering earnest prayer to God {Theos, Attentive Hearer} on his behalf {peri: for his situation}.
6 When Herod {Herodes: royal authority} was about to bring him out, that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were watching at the door of the prison {phylake: place of custody}.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Rescuer} stood beside him, and light flashed in the chamber. Striking Peter’s side, he roused him, saying, “Arise quickly.” And the chains {halyseis: iron restraints} fell from his hands.
8 And the angel {angelos: heavenly messenger} said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” And he did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak {himation: outer robe} around yourself and follow me.”
9 And after going out, he followed; and he did not understand that what was happening through the angel {angelos: divine messenger} was real, but he supposed he was seeing a vision {horama: supernatural sight}.
10 After they passed the first guard post and the second, they came to the iron gate {pyle: fortified entrance} leading into the city, and it opened for them by itself. When they went out and continued along one street, the angel {angelos: heavenly envoy} immediately departed from him.
11 And Peter, having come to himself, said, “Now I truly know that the Lord {Kyrios, Divine Deliverer} has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews {Ioudaioi: Jewish nation}.”
12 And when he realized it, he came to the house {oikia: household meeting-place} of Mary, the mother of John, who is called Mark, where many were gathered together and praying {proseuchomenoi: continuous petition}.
13 While he was knocking at the door {thyra: entry door} of the gate, a servant girl {paidiske: young female servant} named Rhoda came forward to answer.
14 And when she recognized Peter’s voice, because of joy {chara: overwhelming gladness} she did not open the gate {pylon: main entrance}, but ran inside and reported that Peter was standing before the gate.
15 But they told her, “You are mad {Maine: irrational or deluded}.” Yet she persisted that it was so, and they said, “It is his angel {angelos: spiritual messenger}.”
16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door {anoixantes: having opened fully}, they saw him and were amazed {exestesan: overwhelmed with astonishment}.
17 But having motioned to them with his hand to be silent, he recounted to them how the Lord {Kyrios, Divine Deliverer} had brought him out of the prison {phylake: place of confinement}. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then, having gone out, he went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers {stratiotai: military guards} about what had happened to Peter {Petros: imprisoned apostle}.
19 But Herod {Herodes: persecuting ruler}, having sought him without success and then examined the guards {phulakas: prison soldiers}, commanded their removal for execution; then, descending from Judea to Caesarea, he remained there.
20 Now he was angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians, but they came to him with one accord {homothymadon: united resolve}, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they requested peace because their country was being nourished {trephesthai: economically sustained} by the royal territory.
21 Now on the appointed day, Herod {Herodes: Judean monarch}, having put on royal clothing {estheta: formal garments}, sat upon the judgment seat and was speaking publicly to them.
22 But the people {demos: assembled crowd} were shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man {anthropos: mere human}.”
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord {Kyrios, Righteous Avenger} struck him because he did not give the glory to God {Theos, Worthy Of Glory}, and having become eaten by worms, he expired.
24 But the word of God {Theos, Spreading Word Source} continued to increase and was being multiplied {eplēthyneto: spread broadly}.
25 But Barnabas and Saul returned, after completing the ministry {diakonia: relief assignment} in Jerusalem, taking along John, the one called Mark {Markos: alternate Roman name}.