22But the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch. 23Who having come, and seen the grace of God, rejoiced; and he exhorted all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.
25And Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek for Saul; 26and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they came together in the church, and taught a great multitude; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27And in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great dearth over all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar. 29And the disciples, according as any one was prospered, determined each of them to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judæa; 30which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
XII. And about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to oppress[1] certain of the church. 2And he slew James the brother of John with the sword. 3And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also; (then were the days of unleavened bread;) 4whom he also seized and put in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.
5Peter therefore was kept guarded in the prison; but earnest prayer was made by the church to God on his behalf.
6And when Herod was about to bring him forth, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and keepers before the door were guarding the prison. 7And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him, saying: Rise up quickly. And his chains fell from off his hands. 8And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that what was done by the angel was true, but thought he saw a vision.
10And having passed the first and the second watch, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11And Peter, having come to himself, said: Now I know truly, that the Lord sent forth his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12And becoming fully conscious of it, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together, and praying.
13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maidservant came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14And recognizing Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told that Peter was standing before the gate. 15And they said to her: Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said: It is his angel.