19 Now those who were scattered because of ^hthe persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the ⁱHellenists¹ also, ^jpreaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the ^khand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent ^lBarnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, ^mfull of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were ⁿadded to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to ^oTarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called ^pChristians.

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named ^qAgabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^rto send relief to the brothers² living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 ^sHe killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it ^tpleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in ^uprison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 ^vSo Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an ^wangel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He ^xstruck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the ^ychains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a ^zvision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It ^aopened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a ^bservant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not 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 was so, and they kept saying, “It is ^chis angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.”³ Then he departed and went to another place.

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

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,⁴ they asked for peace, ^fbecause their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24 But the ^gword of God increased and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from⁵ Jerusalem when they had completed their ^hservice, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.