ACTS 12 1-25

🗝️’s to riddles, N.T. in a yr study, verses paraphrased Logic [ ] references { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

 1 - About that time Herod the king (Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great who had killed all the Bethlehem children trying to destroy Jesus at birth, Rev.12:4) laid violent hands on some who were believers/followers. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the leaders of the nation, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the annual days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and put four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after Passover to bring him out to the councils. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was being made to God by the rest of the believers.

     6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were guarding before the door of the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off him. 8 And the angel said, “Dress and put on your sandals.” And so he did. And the angel said, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

     9 And so they went out. But Peter didn’t realize it was really happening (literal), but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city and it opened for them of its own accord. And they went out and were going along the street, when the angel left him. 11 And when Peter realized, he said, “Now I’m sure the Lord has sent his angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people were expecting.”

     12 Upon knowing this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name/surname was Mark {who wrote the gospel of Mark, and was a secretary/scribe for Paul and others} where many were gathered together and were praying.

     13 But when he knocked at the door at the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer,  14 and recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy, didn’t open the gate, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the door.

     15 They said to her, “You’re seeing things!” But she kept insisting that it was so, but they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they were amazed. 17 And motioning to them to listen, he described to them how the Lord had set him free and brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell all this to James and the brothers.” Then he left.

     18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and didn’t find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

     20 Now also at this time, Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and united they came to him, having persuaded entrance by Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. {Dependence.}

     21 So on an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes. He took his seat on the throne. And he delivered an oration to the people. 22 And the people began shouting, “The voice of a god! The voice of a god! This is not a man!” 23 And because of it an angel of the Lord struck him down {handed down version? Struck because of it} and because he didn’t {being Hebrew} give God the glory, he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

     24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had delivered the relief. And they brought with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Next - 13:1-42