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Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.
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Learn about the sources and coverage →Around that time, King Herod began arresting members of the church to mistreat them.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Κατ’ ἐκεῖνον δὲ τὸν καιρὸν ἐπέβαλεν Ἡρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰς χεῖρας κακῶσαί τινας τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας.
Kat’ ekeinon de ton kairon epebalen Hērōdēs ho basileus tas cheiras kakōsai tinas tōn apo tēs ekklēsias.
He had James, John’s brother, killed by the sword.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Ἀνεῖλεν δὲ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰωάννου μαχαίρᾳ.
Aneilen de Iakōbon ton adelphon Iōannou machaira.
Seeing that this pleased the Jewish people, he went on to arrest Peter as well. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.1
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
Καὶ ἰδὼν ὅτι ἀρεστόν ἐστιν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, προσέθετο συλλαβεῖν καὶ Πέτρον—ἦσαν δὲ αἱ ἡμέραι τῶν ἀζύμων—
Kai idōn hoti areston estin tois Ioudaiois, prosetheto syllabein kai Petron—ēsan de hai hēmerai tōn azymōn—
After taking Peter into custody, Herod put him in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He planned to bring Peter before the people after Passover.2
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.
ὃν καὶ πιάσας ἔθετο εἰς φυλακήν, παραδοὺς τέσσαρσιν τετραδίοις στρατιωτῶν φυλάσσειν αὐτόν, βουλόμενος μετὰ τὸ Πάσχα ἀναγαγεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ.
hon kai piasas etheto eis phylakēn, paradous tessarsin tetradiois stratiōtōn phylassein auton, boulomenos meta to Pascha anagagein auton tō laō.
Peter remained under guard, while the church prayed earnestly to God for him.3
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Ὁ μὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ∙ προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν ἐκτενὴς γινομένη ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ.
Ho men oun Petros etēreito en tē phylakē; proseuchē de ēn ektenēs ginomenē hypo tēs ekklēsias pros ton theon hyper autou.
On the night before Herod intended to bring him out, Peter was asleep between two soldiers, bound by two chains. Guards were also stationed at the prison entrance.
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.
Ὅτε δὲ ἔμελλεν αὐτὸν προάγειν ὁ Ἡρῴδης, τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ἦν ὁ Πέτρος κοιμώμενος μεταξὺ δύο στρατιωτῶν, δεδεμένος ἁλύσεσιν δυσίν∙ φύλακές τε πρὸ τῆς θύρας ἐτήρουν τὴν φυλακήν.
Hote de emellen auton proagein ho Hērōdēs, tē nykti ekeinē ēn ho Petros koimōmenos metaxy dyo stratiōtōn, dedemenos halysesin dysin; phylakes te pro tēs thyras etēroun tēn phylakēn.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and light filled the cell. The angel struck Peter’s side to wake him. “Quick, get up!” he said. The chains dropped from Peter’s wrists.
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.
Καὶ ἰδού, ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη, καὶ φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι∙ πατάξας δὲ τὴν πλευρὰν τοῦ Πέτρου, ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν λέγων, Ἀνάστα ἐν τάχει. Καὶ ἐξέπεσον αὐτοῦ αἱ ἁλύσεις ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν.
Kai idou, angelos kyriou epestē, kai phōs elampsen en tō oikēmati; pataxas de tēn pleuran tou Petrou, ēgeiren auton legōn, Anasta en tachei. Kai exepeson autou hai halyseis ek tōn cheirōn.
“Fasten your belt and put on your sandals,” the angel told him. Peter did so. Then the angel said, “Put your cloak around you and come with me.”
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.
Εἶπέν τε ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτόν, Περίζωσαι καὶ ὑπόδησαι τὰ σανδάλιά σου. Ἐποίησεν δὲ οὕτως. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Περιβαλοῦ τὸ ἱμάτιόν σου, καὶ ἀκολούθει μοι.
Eipen te ho angelos pros auton, Perizōsai kai hypodēsai ta sandalia sou. Epoiēsen de houtōs. Kai legei autō, Peribalou to himation sou, kai akolouthei moi.
Peter followed him out, still thinking he was seeing a vision. He did not realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening.
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.
Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ∙ καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστιν τὸ γινόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου, ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν.
Kai exelthōn ēkolouthei autō; kai ouk ēdei hoti alēthes estin to ginomenon dia tou angelou, edokei de horama blepein.
They passed the first guard post, then the second, and reached the iron gate that opened toward the city. It swung open by itself. They went out and walked along one street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
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.
Διελθόντες δὲ πρώτην φυλακὴν καὶ δευτέραν, ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν σιδηρᾶν, τὴν φέρουσαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἥτις αὐτομάτη ἠνοίχθη αὐτοῖς∙ καὶ ἐξελθόντες προῆλθον ῥύμην μίαν, καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέστη ὁ ἄγγελος ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ.
Dielthontes de prōtēn phylakēn kai deuteran, ēlthon epi tēn pylēn tēn sidēran, tēn pherousan eis tēn polin, hētis automatē ēnoichthē autois; kai exelthontes proēlthon rhymēn mian, kai eutheōs apestē ho angelos ap’ autou.
Peter came to his senses. “Now I know for certain,” he said. “The Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s power and from everything the Jewish people expected to happen to me.”
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.
Καὶ ὁ Πέτρος, γενόμενος ἐν ἑαυτῷ, εἶπεν, Νῦν οἶδα ἀληθῶς ὅτι ἐξαπέστειλεν κύριος τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξείλετό με ἐκ χειρὸς Ἡρῴδου καὶ πάσης τῆς προσδοκίας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων.
Kai ho Petros, genomenos en heautō, eipen, Nyn oida alēthōs hoti exapesteilen kyrios ton angelon autou, kai exeileto me ek cheiros Hērōdou kai pasēs tēs prosdokias tou laou tōn Ioudaiōn.
Once he realized this, he went to Mary’s house. She was the mother of John, also called Mark. Many people had gathered there and were praying.
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.
Συνιδών τε ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς Ἰωάννου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Μάρκου, οὗ ἦσαν ἱκανοὶ συνηθροισμένοι καὶ προσευχόμενοι.
Synidōn te ēlthen epi tēn oikian Marias tēs mētros Iōannou tou epikaloumenou Markou, hou ēsan hikanoi synēthroismenoi kai proseuchomenoi.
Peter knocked at the entrance gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Κρούσαντος δὲ τοῦ Πέτρου τὴν θύραν τοῦ πυλῶνος, προσῆλθεν παιδίσκη ὑπακοῦσαι, ὀνόματι Ῥόδη.
Krousantos de tou Petrou tēn thyran tou pylōnos, prosēlthen paidiskē hypakousai, onomati Rhodē.
She recognized Peter’s voice and was so overjoyed that she ran back inside without opening the gate. “Peter is standing outside!” she announced.
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.
Καὶ ἐπιγνοῦσα τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ Πέτρου, ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς οὐκ ἤνοιξεν τὸν πυλῶνα, εἰσδραμοῦσα δὲ ἀπήγγειλεν ἑστάναι τὸν Πέτρον πρὸ τοῦ πυλῶνος.
Kai epignousa tēn phōnēn tou Petrou, apo tēs charas ouk ēnoixen ton pylōna, eisdramousa de apēngeilen hestanai ton Petron pro tou pylōnos.
“You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting it was true. “It must be his angel,” they said.4
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
Οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπον, Μαίνῃ. Ἡ δὲ διϊσχυρίζετο οὕτως ἔχειν. Οἱ δὲ ἔλεγον, Ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
Hoi de pros autēn eipon, Mainē. Hē de diischyrizeto houtōs echein. Hoi de elegon, Ho angelos autou estin.
Peter kept knocking. When they finally opened the gate and saw him, they were astonished.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἐπέμενεν κρούων∙ ἀνοίξαντες δὲ εἶδον αὐτόν, καὶ ἐξέστησαν.
Ho de Petros epemenen krouōn; anoixantes de eidon auton, kai exestēsan.
He raised his hand to quiet them and explained how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other believers what happened,” he said. Then he left and went somewhere else.5
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.
Κατασείσας δὲ αὐτοῖς τῇ χειρὶ σιγᾷν, διηγήσατο αὐτοῖς πῶς ὁ κύριος αὐτὸν ἐξήγαγεν ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς. Εἶπεν δέ, Ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰακώβῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ταῦτα. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐπορεύθη εἰς ἕτερον τόπον.
Kataseisas de autois tē cheiri sigan, diēgēsato autois pōs ho kyrios auton exēgagen ek tēs phylakēs. Eipen de, Apangeilate Iakōbō kai tois adelphois tauta. Kai exelthōn eporeuthē eis heteron topon.
At daybreak, the soldiers were thrown into confusion, wondering what could have happened to Peter.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Γενομένης δὲ ἡμέρας, ἦν τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος ἐν τοῖς στρατιώταις, τί ἄρα ὁ Πέτρος ἐγένετο.
Genomenēs de hēmeras, ēn tarachos ouk oligos en tois stratiōtais, ti ara ho Petros egeneto.
Herod searched for him but could not find him. After questioning the guards, he ordered them taken away to be executed. Then he left Judea, went down to Caesarea, and stayed there.6
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.
Ἡρῴδης δὲ ἐπιζητήσας αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ εὑρών, ἀνακρίνας τοὺς φύλακας, ἐκέλευσεν ἀπαχθῆναι. Καὶ κατελθὼν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς τὴν Καισάρειαν διέτριβεν.
Hērōdēs de epizētēsas auton kai mē heurōn, anakrinas tous phylakas, ekeleusen apachthēnai. Kai katelthōn apo tēs Ioudaias eis tēn Kaisareian dietriben.
Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They approached him together, seeking peace, because their region relied on his territory for food. They had persuaded Blastus, the official responsible for the king’s private quarters, to support their request.
¶ 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.
Ἦν δὲ ὁ Ἡρῴδης θυμομαχῶν Τυρίοις καὶ Σιδωνίοις∙ ὁμοθυμαδὸν δὲ παρῆσαν πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ πείσαντες Βλάστον τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ κοιτῶνος τοῦ βασιλέως, ᾐτοῦντο εἰρήνην, διὰ τὸ τρέφεσθαι αὐτῶν τὴν χώραν ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλικῆς.
Ēn de ho Hērōdēs thymomachōn Tyriois kai Sidōniois; homothymadon de parēsan pros auton, kai peisantes Blaston ton epi tou koitōnos tou basileōs, ētounto eirēnēn, dia to trephesthai autōn tēn chōran apo tēs basilikēs.
On the appointed day, Herod dressed in his royal robes, sat on the judgment platform, and addressed the people.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Τακτῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἐνδυσάμενος ἐσθῆτα βασιλικήν, καὶ καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, ἐδημηγόρει πρὸς αὐτούς.
Taktē de hēmera ho Hērōdēs endysamenos esthēta basilikēn, kai kathisas epi tou bēmatos, edēmēgorei pros autous.
The crowd shouted back, “That is a god speaking, not a man!”
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Ὁ δὲ δῆμος ἐπεφώνει, Φωνὴ θεοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπου.
Ho de dēmos epephōnei, Phōnē theou kai ouk anthrōpou.
An angel of the Lord struck Herod at once because he did not give the glory to God. Worms consumed him, and he died.
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.
Παραχρῆμα δὲ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν ἄγγελος κυρίου, ἀνθ’ ὧν οὐκ ἔδωκεν δόξαν τῷ θεῷ∙ καὶ γενόμενος σκωληκόβρωτος, ἐξέψυξεν.
Parachrēma de epataxen auton angelos kyriou, anth’ hōn ouk edōken doxan tō theō; kai genomenos skōlēkobrōtos, exepsyxen.
But God’s message continued to grow and spread.
¶ But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Ὁ δὲ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐπληθύνετο.
Ho de logos tou theou ēuxanen kai eplēthyneto.
After completing their service, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking John, also called Mark, with them.7
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Βαρνάβας δὲ καὶ Σαῦλος ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, πληρώσαντες τὴν διακονίαν, συμπαραλαβόντες καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἐπικληθέντα Μάρκον.
Barnabas de kai Saulos hypestrepsan eis Hierousalēm, plērōsantes tēn diakonian, symparalabontes kai Iōannēn ton epiklēthenta Markon.