What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
ACTS • CHAPTER 12
Acts 12
The Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, apostles, persecution, Gentile inclusion, Paul, missionary expansion, and the movement toward Rome.
READ THE CHAPTER
Acts 12
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
The complete biblical text below is stored on this website.
You do not need to leave The Bible for Smart People to read it.
1
Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
2
He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
4
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
5
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
6
The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
7
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands.
8
The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
9
And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
10
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
12
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15
They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
16
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
17
But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
19
When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
20
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22
The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.
24
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
HISTORY
Where this chapter fits
Acts narrates the expansion of the early Jesus movement and should be compared with Paul's letters, Roman history, and the social world of the first-century Mediterranean.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION
You've reached the member analysis.
You can keep reading every Bible chapter on this site for free.
Membership unlocks the deeper analysis, historical context, competing interpretations, perspectives, and conclusion.
WANT TO KEEP READING FOR FREE?
Continue to Acts 13
The complete biblical text of the next chapter is free to read.
You only need membership when you want the deeper analysis and side-by-side investigation.
READ NEXT CHAPTER FREEUNLOCK THE ANALYSIS
Already a member?
Sign in to continue →