The Lord Jesus Builds His Church - Lesson 15

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some whobelonged to the church. 2 He killed fJames the brother of John gwiththe sword, 3 and when he saw hthat it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrestPeter also. This was during ithe days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he hadseized him, he put him jin prison, delivering him over to four ksquads of soldiersto guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 SoPeter was kept in prison, but earnest lprayer for him was made to God by thechurch.

Peter Is Rescued

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter wassleeping between two soldiers, mbound with two chains, and sentries before thedoor were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, nan angel of the Lord ostood next tohim, and a light shone in the cell. pHe struck Peter on the side and woke him,saying, “Get up quickly.” And qthe chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel saidto him, “Dress yourself and rput on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said tohim, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out andfollowed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real,but sthought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and thesecond guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. tIt opened forthem of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, andimmediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter ucame to himself, he said, “Now Iam sure that vthe Lord has sent his angel and wrescued me from the hand ofHerod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of xJohnwhose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and ywerepraying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, za servant girlnamed Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, ain her joy she didnot open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it wasso, and they kept saying, “It is bhis angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, andwhen they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But cmotioning to themwith his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought himout of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to dJames and to ethe brothers.”1 Then he departed and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers overwhat had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not findhim, he examined the sentries and fordered that they should be put to death.Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

The Death of Herod

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came tohim with one accord, and ghaving persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,2they asked for peace, because htheir country depended on the king’s country forfood. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon thethrone, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “Thevoice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately ian angel of the Lord struck himdown, because jhe did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms andbreathed his last.

24 But kthe word of God increased and multiplied.

25 lAnd Barnabas and Saul returned from3 Jerusalem when they hadcompleted their service, bringing with them mJohn, whose other name wasMark.

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