Study Desk

Now about that time ^(F1)Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm.

And he ^(C1)had James the brother of John ^(C2)executed with a sword.

When he saw that it ^(C1)pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were ^(F1)(C2)the days of Unleavened Bread.)

When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four ^(F1)(C1)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after ^(C2)the Passover to bring him before the people.

So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God ^(F1)intensely by the church.

On ^(F1)the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^(C1)bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

And behold, ^(C1)an angel of the Lord suddenly ^(C2)stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And ^(C3)his chains fell off his hands.

And the angel said to him, "Put on your belt and ^(F1)strap on your sandals." And he did so. And he ^(*)said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing ^(C1)a vision.

Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which ^(C1)opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.