Herod Agrippa

1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

Around that time King Herod began to hurt some of the people who belonged to the church.

2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

He had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword.

3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

When Herod saw that this made the Jewish leaders glad, he arrested Peter too. This happened during the Feast 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.

He put Peter in prison and gave him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard. Herod planned to put Peter on public trial after the Passover.

5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed to God for him without stopping.

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.

The night before Herod meant to bring him out, Peter was asleep between two soldiers, tied with two chains. Guards stood watch at the door.

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.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel tapped Peter's side, woke him, and said, "Get up, quickly." The chains fell off Peter's wrists.

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.

The angel said, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." Peter did. Then the angel said, "Wrap your coat around you 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.

Peter went out and followed him. He did not realize that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing 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.

They walked past the first guard post and the second one. They came to the iron gate that led into the city, and it opened for them by itself. They went out and walked down one street, and then the angel suddenly left 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.

Then Peter understood what had happened. He said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel. He rescued me from Herod and from everything the Jewish crowd was waiting to see."

18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

When morning came, the soldiers were very upset. They could not figure out what had happened to 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 Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Herod searched for Peter and could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he left Judea, went down to Caesarea, and stayed there.

20And 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.

Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came to him together, after making friends with Blastus, the officer in charge of the king's household. They asked for peace, because their region got its food from Herod's land.

21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

On a day that had been set, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and gave a speech to them.

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

The people shouted, "This is the voice of a god, 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.

Right away an angel of the Lord struck Herod down, because he did not give the honor to God. He was eaten by worms and died.