Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased due to ©‘s [ ] ref { } thots
Book of the Acts of the First Believers
1 - At about that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who were believers/followers. [This is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great who had killed all the Bethlehem children trying to destroy Jesus at birth, Rev.12:4] 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. [The whole week was referred to as either Passover or Unleavened Bread, and the two days, Passover and 1st Day of Unleavened Bread, were also called interchangeably. This hides how veRy perfectly the lord’s 1st brief advent fulfilled the Spring holy days. Holy means set apart.] 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the rest of the believers were earnestly praying to God for him.
6 Now on the very night before Herod was planning to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound to them with two chains. And sentries were guarding the door of the prison.
7 When suddenly, a light shone in the cell, and an angel of the Lord was there. He struck Peter on his side to wake him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off.
8 The angel said, “Dress and put on your sandals.” And then he 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 in 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. They went out and were going along the street, when the angel left him.
11 And when Peter realized it, he said, “Now I’m sure the Lord has sent his angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and all he had planned!” {Yet he had been soundly sleeping.. I read that in commentaries when reading to be sure I had the “chained - to - the guards right. It was Roman custom to chain hand to hand.}
12 So then 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}. There were many gathered there 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 when she recognized Peter's voice, in her joy, she forgot to open the gate! And she ran back in and reported that Peter was standing at the door!
15 They said, “You’re seeing things..” But she kept insisting that it was so, but they said, “It’s his angel [aggelos - angel, messenger, guardian].”
16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him 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 Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. {Dependence.} The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, and an audience with Herod was granted.
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 mere man!” 23 And because of it an angel of the Lord struck him down. {We have here a handed down version?} And because he didn’t {being Hebrew} give God the glory, he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. {Real bad guys, those Herods.. but this one (Antipas) had liked to listen to John the baptist/baptizer.. before he executed him to save face.}
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied! 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem (to Antioch) when they had delivered the relief. And they brought with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Next - 13:1-42
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