1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6And 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. 7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, 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. 12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode.
20¶ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24¶ But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
希律王的暴行
1那时，希律王下手残害教会的一些人， 2杀了约翰的哥哥雅各。 3他见这样做能取悦犹太人，便又在除酵节期间拘捕了彼得， 4把他关在监里，由四班卫兵，每班四人轮流看守，想等逾越节12:4 除酵节为期七天，逾越节是其中的第一天，参见出埃及记12章。过后当众惩办他。 5彼得被囚期间，教会都迫切地为他向上帝祷告。
彼得神奇出狱
6在被希律提审前一夜，彼得被两条铁链锁着睡在两个卫兵中间，门外警卫森严。 7忽然，有一位主的天使站在彼得身旁，监牢内一片光明，天使拍他的肋旁，把他叫醒，说：“赶快起来！”铁链就从他手上脱落下来。 8天使对他说：“束上腰带，穿好鞋子。”彼得一一照办。天使又说：“披上外衣，跟我来！” 9他跟着天使走出牢房，不知道这一切都是真的，还以为自己看到了异象。 10他们一路穿过第一道和第二道守卫，来到通往城里的铁门，那门竟自动打开了。他们就出来，走过一条街之后，天使便离开了彼得。
11彼得这才如梦初醒，说：“现在我确定，主派了天使来救我脱离希律的魔掌，不让犹太人的期望得逞。” 12他清醒后，便到约翰·马可的母亲玛丽亚家，很多人正聚集在那里祷告。
13彼得在外面敲门，有一个叫罗大的婢女出来应门。 14她听出是彼得的声音，喜出望外，竟然没有开门就跑进去告诉大家：“彼得在门外！” 15他们说：“你一定疯了。”她坚持说：“是真的！”他们就说：“是他的天使吧！”
16彼得不住地敲门。他们开门看见他，都大吃一惊！ 17彼得摆手示意他们安静，然后把主怎样领他出狱的经过告诉大家，又说：“把这事告诉雅各和其他弟兄姊妹。”交待完了，他便离开那里，往其他地方去了。
18天亮后，监狱的守卫发现彼得不见了，顿时一片骚动。 19希律派人四处搜捕，一无所获，于是亲自审问看守彼得的卫兵，下令处决他们。后来希律离开犹太，下到凯撒利亚，并住在那里。
希律的下场
20希律对泰尔和西顿的人非常恼火。于是，他们联合起来去见他，先取得宫廷总管伯拉斯都的支持，然后向他求和，因为他们两地需要从他的辖区获得粮食。
21到了约定的日子，希律穿上王袍，坐在宝座上向众人致词。 22致词完毕，众人齐声高呼：“这是神明在说话，不是凡人在说话！” 23希律没有把荣耀归给上帝，主的天使立刻惩罚他，他当场被虫子咬死了。
24上帝的道日见兴旺，越传越广。
25巴拿巴和扫罗把款项送到以后，就带着约翰·马可从耶路撒冷回去。
