Acts 12:1-11 ▼

1 About that time, king Herod Agrippa began to persecute some of the church.

2 he caus'd James the brother of John to be beheaded.

3 and perceiving that the Jews were pleas'd with this, he proceeded to secure Peter during the feast of unleavened bread:

4 having apprehended Peter, he put him into prison, appointing a detachment of sixteen soldiers to guard him, intending to have him brought to publick execution, after Easter.

5 thus Peter was kept in prison, but the Church prayed to God, without ceasing, for him,

6 now the very night preceding the day which Herod design'd for his execution, Peter bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the other guards secured the prison door; when an angel of

7 the Lord suddenly appear'd and fill'd the room with light, and touching Peter on the side, awak'd him, saying, rise, be quick, and immediately his chains fell from his hands.

8 put on your girdle, continu'd the angel, and bind on your sandals: which he did, throw your cloak over you, said the angel, and follow me.

9 so he went out after the angel without knowing that what the angel had done, was real; but thinking it was all a vision.

10 when they had pass'd the first and second guard, they came to the iron-gate that leads to the city, which open'd to them of itself: so they went out and pass'd together thro' one street: when all of a sudden the angel quitted Peter. Then coming to himself; now,

11 said he, I know for certain, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has deliver'd me from the hands of Herod, and from what the Jews were in expectation of.