LESSON
54
PETER PUT
IN PRISON
Acts 12:1-17
King James Version (KJV)
12 Now about
that time Herod the king
stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed
James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take
Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 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. 5 Peter therefore
was kept in
prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of
the church unto God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to
hearken, named Rhoda. 14 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. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed
that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door,
and saw him, they were astonished. 17 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.
