Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

About that time, King Herod began to persecute the church. He put out his hands to afflict some of its members, and he killed James, the brother of John, with a sword.

The Jews were pleased with this, so Herod decided to arrest Peter too. This was during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. When he had Peter arrested, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Meanwhile, the church prayed fervently for Peter's release from prison. He was kept under close guard by the soldiers, who chained him up with two chains and posted guards at the entrance of his cell. Herod planned to bring him out before the people after the Passover.

But during this time, the church continued to pray without ceasing for Peter. One night, an angel of the Lord appeared in his prison cell. The room was filled with a brilliant light as the angel struck Peter on the side and said, "Rise quickly!" And instantly, Peter's chains fell off.

The angel told him, "Put on your sandals and get dressed." Then he did so, and the angel added, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Peter followed the angel out of the cell, unaware that it was actually an angel who had been sent to free him. He thought it was just a vision.

As they walked past the first and second guard stations, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It swung open by itself, and they went outside and continued through one street before the angel vanished.

When Peter finally realized what had happened, he said with certainty that the Lord had sent His angel to rescue him from Herod's grasp and from the expectations of the Jewish people.

After his incredible escape, Peter came to the house of Mary, John Mark's mother, where a group of believers were praying. Many were gathered there, hoping for Peter's release. When he knocked at the door, a young woman named Rhoda answered.

She recognized Peter's voice and was overjoyed, but she didn't open the door right away. Instead, she ran inside to tell the others that it was really him standing outside. They doubted her at first, thinking she must have seen his angel instead of the real person.

But Peter continued knocking until they finally opened the door. When they saw him, they were amazed and silenced by his presence. He motioned for them to be quiet and told them about the Lord's incredible deliverance from prison. He instructed them to report these events to James and the other believers and then departed to another place.

The next day, a great commotion arose among the soldiers who had been guarding Peter when he escaped. When Herod realized that Peter was missing, he interrogated the guards and ordered them to be executed.

Herod left Judea and traveled down to Caesarea, where he settled. While there, he became embroiled in a dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who had befriended one of his officials named Blastus in an attempt to gain favor with him since their country relied on trade with the king's.

On a specific day, Herod put on his royal attire and delivered a public address to them. The crowd shouted, exalting him as a god rather than a human being.

But immediately, the angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he failed to give God the glory due Him. As a result, he was consumed by worms and died a terrible death.

Despite this tragic event, the word of God continued to spread and grow in power.

Around that same time, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after completing their ministry. They took John Mark with them as they traveled back home.

Barnabas

Saul

John Mark