1. Now at that time Herod the king seized some from Messiah’s community to do them harm.
2. He had Jacob, John’s brother, put to death with the sword.
3. Seeing it pleased the Judean leaders, he proceeded to capture Peter as well. This was during the Days of Matzah.
4. After seizing him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads with four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5. So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being offered fervently to God by Messiah’s community.
6. Now that very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping—bound with two chains between two soldiers, while guards before the gate were keeping watch over the prison.
7. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He poked Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up! Quick!” And the chains fell off his hands.