1Nowabout that timeHerod the kinglaidhands on somewhobelonged to the church in order to mistreat them.
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And he 1had James the brother of John2put to death with a sword.
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When he saw that it 3pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrestPeteralso. Now it was during 4the days of Unleavened Bread.
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When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four5squads of soldiers to guard him, intendingafter6the Passover to bring him out before the people.
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SoPeter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was beingmadefervently by the church to God.
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On the verynightwhenHerod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleepingbetweentwosoldiers, 7bound with twochains, and guards in front of the door were watchingover the prison.
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And behold, 8an angel of the Lord suddenly 9appeared and a lightshone in the cell; and he struckPeter'sside and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And 10his chainsfelloff his hands.
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And the angelsaid to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he didso. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloakaround you and follow me."
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And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was beingdone by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing11a vision.
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When they had passed the first and secondguard, they came to the irongate that leads into the city, which12opened for them by itself; and they went out and wentalongonestreet, and immediately the angeldeparted from him.
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When Peter13came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that 14the Lord has sentforth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewishpeople were expecting."