1NOW about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And 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.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And 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.
7 And, 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.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 When 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.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But 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.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And 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.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And 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.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

1Now about that time, Herode the King stretched foorth his hands, to vexe certaine of the Church.

2And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword.

3And because he saw it pleased the Iewes, hee proceeded further, to take Peter also. (Then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.)

4And when hee had apprehended him, hee put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to keepe 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 vnto God for him.

6And when Herode would haue brought him foorth, the same night Peter was sleeping betweene two Souldiers, bound with two chaines, and the Keepers before the doore kept the prison.

7And beholde, the Angel of the Lord came vpon him, and a light shined in the prison: and hee smote Peter on the side, and raised him vp, saying, Arise vp quickely. And his chaines fell off from his hands.

8And the Angel said vnto him, Girde thy selfe, and binde on thy sandales: And so he did. And he sayth vnto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9And hee 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 vnto the yron gate that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them of his owne accord: and they went out and passed on thorow one streete, and foorthwith the Angel departed from him.

11And when Peter was come to himselfe, hee said, Now I know of a suretie, that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath deliuered mee out of the hand of Herode, and from all the expectation of the people of the Iewes.

12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of Iohn whose sirname was Marke, where many were gathered together praying.

13And as Peter knocked at the doore of the gate, a damosell came to hearken, named Rhoda.

14And when she knew Peters voice, she opened not the gate for gladnes, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15And they said vnto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was euen so. Then said they, It it his Angel.

16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the doore, and saw him, they were astonished.

17But he beckening vnto them with the hand, to hold their peace, declared vnto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison: And he said, Goe shew these things vnto Iames, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

18Now assoone as it was day, there was no smal stirre among the souldiers, what was become of Peter.

19And when Herode had sought for him, and found him not, hee examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And hee went downe from Iudea to Cesarea, & there abode.

20 And Herode was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and hauing made Blastus the kings chamberlaine their friend, desired peace, because their countrey was nourished by the kings countrey.

21And vpon a set day Herod arayed in royall apparell, sate vpon his throne, and made an Oration vnto them.

22And the people gaue a shout, saying, It is the voice of a God, and not of a man.

23And immediatly the Angel of the Lord smote him, because hee gaue not God the glory, and hee was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the ghost.

24 But the word of God grewe, and multiplied.

25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Hierusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministerie, and tooke with them Iohn, whose syrname was Marke.

 

1 About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, 3 and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (It was (the) feast of Unleavened Bread.) 4 He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 6 On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. 7 Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." 9 So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that (the) Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer. 13 When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 She was so overjoyed when she recognized Peter's voice that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They told her, "You are out of your mind," but she insisted that it was so. But they kept saying, "It is his angel." 16 But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded. 17 He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and explained (to them) how the Lord had led him out of the prison, and said, "Report this to James and the brothers." Then he left and went to another place. 18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 Herod, after instituting a search but not finding him, ordered the guards tried and executed. Then he left Judea to spend some time in Caesarea. 20 He had long been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who now came to him in a body. After winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they sued for peace because their country was supplied with food from the king's territory. 21 On an appointed day, Herod, attired in royal robes, (and) seated on the rostrum, addressed them publicly. 22 The assembled crowd cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23 At once the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not ascribe the honor to God, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 24 But the word of God continued to spread and grow. 25 After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.

v1.        HEROD 1 or  HEROD THE GREAT Restored the Temple--Matt 2:2, Killed babies                                
"Herod” is not an individual but a family surname
Herod Philip 1   Herod Philip 2   Aristobulus  Herod Archelaus Herod Antipas                                                                                                                                                                         Herodias The Tetrarch,  Killed by father          Feared by         The Tetrarch     
Salome    Best Herod      (Herod The Great)    Joseph, Mt. 2:22     improperly
m. Salome       m. Bernice 1: Son,      Cruel, killed       m. to Herodias
Herod Agrippa 2,        3000 Jews at       condemned
Killed James,            Passover              by John who       Imprisoned Peter     he beheaded Bernice 2 lived at times         Trial of Jesus
immorally? with unmarried 
brother Herod Agrippa 2
They examined Paul
See Complete chart of Herods and their marriages in Unger’s Bible Dictionary. There lives were a constant mixture of evil rule, immorality, and intrigue.

v4. Herod was trying to curry favor with Jews. He desired praise of men rather than justice. Easter - Frequently so translated many times in earlier English versions, in KJV the other 28 times pascha is translated Passover. Unfortunate translation because Easter is of Saxon origin for Estera the goddess of spring. In her honor sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. By the 8th century, Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
v5. Persistent, prevailing prayer by the brethren (James 5;16) (Isa. 65:24 While ye are yet speaking, I will hear.) was their weapon against Herod.
v6. as in 1-4, 10, he was under heavy guard. He could sleep, Christ had promised him long life, John 21:18. Usual Roman night watch was four changed every four hours [four quaternions, v4] two soldiers inside and two sentinels outside the door. A prisoners right wrist was chained to the soldier’s left, or between two for security.
v7. When God acts, we must respond quickly.
v8. Obey quickly, but act with orderliness. Wood or leather sandals had a thong or latches through which the heel and toe were slipped, then drawn tight at a hole in end.
v9. At this point, half awake, he assumes it a trance as the sheet let down, ch. 10.
v10. Part is supernatural, but the angel doesn’t do what Peter can do for himself.
v11. In the Old Testament the angel of the Lord was Christ. This may have been Peter’s guardian angel or some other, but now he knows it is real and the experience gives him confidence. Guardian angels may be involved, Gen. 48:16 and Mt. 18:10.
v12. These people probably prayed for James deliverance too,v2, but (Isa. 55:8 Gods ways are not our ways). The mother of John Mark, the writer of the Gospel, was dedicated to the Lord and may have been a well to do widow.
v13,14. Usually a thick iron ring knocker. The small door in the larger gate into the enclosed yard. Rhoda (Rose) a common Greek name, reminds of certain excitable today who might jump with glee but not open, even realizing prayer was answered.
v15,16. Not necessarily that they had prayed without faith, but they didn’t expect the answer in this time and manner.
v17. Peter hushes them as he still might be in jeopardy from any passing guard. James the apostle was slain, this is Jesus’ half brother, the church leader. Peter may have gone to Asia Minor at this time see  1 Pet. 1:1. Sometimes wise for missionaries to leave the field because of terrorists etc.
v.18,19. Even today, soldiers know it might be their life for an escapee. Again Isa. 55:18, God allowed the Philippian jailer to be saved spiritually and physically, while these lost their lives.
v.20. Herod and these people didn’t get along and they may have bribed Blastus to mediate for the mutual good.
v21,22. Josephus says this garment was entirely and wondrously made of silver, which shone with splendor in the sun. This greatly impressed people. Blasphemous response, even if just flattery. but Herod didn’t disclaim it. Don’t accept  praise due to others, and especially give credit to God. Barnabas and Saul, Acts 14:13-18.
v23. Josephus says Herod had intense internal pains and died five days later. A cruel queen of Cyrene reportedly was eaten of worms, and worms rose out of the body of Antiochus Epiphanies while he lived with the pain and stench, 2 Maccabees 9:9. But Herod was not punished for his cruelty, it was for not giving glory to God.

v24,25. The word grew under persecution and is now ready to be given in Asia Minor. The Word still grows under persecution as seen in China and other places. Here Barnabas takes Saul, later Paul takes Barnabas.