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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 12:2–5

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 2

  1. Hebrews 11:37Rank 1 from verse 2
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    37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

  2. Matthew 20:23Rank 2 from verse 2
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    23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

  3. Matthew 4:21–22Rank 3 from verse 2
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    21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

    22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

  4. Mark 10:35Rank 4 from verse 2
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    35¶ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

  5. Mark 10:38Rank 5 from verse 2
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    38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

  6. 1 Kings 19:1Rank 6 from verse 2
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    1AND Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

  7. 1 Kings 19:10Rank 7 from verse 2
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    10And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

  8. Jeremiah 26:23Rank 8 from verse 2
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    23And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

From verse 3

  1. Exodus 23:15Rank 1 from verse 3
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    15Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

  2. Acts 24:27Rank 2 from verse 3
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    27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

  3. John 12:43Rank 3 from verse 3
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    43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

  4. Leviticus 23:6–14Rank 4 from verse 3
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    6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

    7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

    8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

    9¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

    10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

    11And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

    12And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord.

    13And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

    14And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

  5. Acts 25:9Rank 5 from verse 3
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    9But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

  6. Exodus 12:14–20Rank 6 from verse 3
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    14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

    15Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

    16And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

    17And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

    18¶ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

    19Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

    20Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

  7. 1 Corinthians 5:7–8Rank 7 from verse 3
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    7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

    8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

  8. Acts 20:6Rank 8 from verse 3
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    6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

  9. Exodus 13:3–7Rank 9 from verse 3
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    3¶ And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

    4This day came ye out in the month Abib.

    5¶ And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

    6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.

    7Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

  10. Galatians 1:10Rank 10 from verse 3
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    10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:4Rank 11 from verse 3
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    4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

  12. John 19:11Rank 12 from verse 3
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    11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

  13. John 21:18Rank 13 from verse 3
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    18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

  14. Matthew 26:17Rank 14 from verse 3
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    17¶ Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

  15. Psalms 76:10Rank 15 from verse 3
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    10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  16. Acts 2:14Rank 16 from verse 3
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    14¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

  17. Acts 4:13Rank 17 from verse 3
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    13¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

From verse 4

  1. Proverbs 19:21Rank 1 from verse 4
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    21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

  2. Luke 22:33Rank 2 from verse 4
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    33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

  3. Luke 21:12Rank 3 from verse 4
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    12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

  4. Acts 4:28Rank 4 from verse 4
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    28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

  5. John 13:36–38Rank 5 from verse 4
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    36¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

    37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

    38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

  6. Acts 4:3Rank 6 from verse 4
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    3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

  7. Esther 3:13Rank 7 from verse 4
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    13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

  8. Esther 3:6–7Rank 8 from verse 4
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    6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

    7¶ In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

  9. John 21:18Rank 9 from verse 4
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    18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

  10. Matthew 24:9Rank 10 from verse 4
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    9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

  11. Matthew 26:5Rank 11 from verse 4
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    5But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

  12. Matthew 27:64–66Rank 12 from verse 4
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    64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

    65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

    66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

  13. Proverbs 27:1Rank 13 from verse 4
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    1BOAST not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  14. Acts 16:23–24Rank 14 from verse 4
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    23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

    24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

  15. Acts 5:18Rank 15 from verse 4
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    18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

  16. Acts 8:3Rank 16 from verse 4
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    3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

  17. John 19:23Rank 17 from verse 4
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    23¶ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

  18. Lamentations 3:37Rank 18 from verse 4
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    37¶ Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

From verse 5

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:26Rank 1 from verse 5
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    26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

  2. James 5:16Rank 2 from verse 5
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    16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:17Rank 3 from verse 5
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    17Pray without ceasing.

  4. Ephesians 6:18–20Rank 4 from verse 5
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    18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

    20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  5. 2 Corinthians 1:11Rank 5 from verse 5
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    11Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

  6. Matthew 18:19Rank 6 from verse 5
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    19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

  7. Acts 12:12Rank 7 from verse 5
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    12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

  8. Luke 18:1Rank 8 from verse 5
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    1AND he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

  9. Hebrews 13:3Rank 9 from verse 5
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    3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

  10. Isaiah 62:6–7Rank 10 from verse 5
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    6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,

    7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 12:2

COMBINED MEANING

killed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of kill, meaning to cause death, slay, put to death, or destroy life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

brother

↗

Sense 1: A male sibling; a near kinsman. Sense 2: A fellow member of a people or faith.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 12:3

COMBINED MEANING

pleased

↗

Past-tense, past-participial, or adjectival form of please. Sense 1: Gave pleasure or satisfaction to, was agreeable or acceptable to, or was gratified. Sense 2: Chose, desired, willed, or saw fit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

proceeded

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of proceed (to go forth, come out, or continue onward).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

further

↗

Sense 1: Farther in distance; more, additional, advanced, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To advance, promote, help forward, or carry to greater progress.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 12:4

COMBINED MEANING

put

↗

To place, set, lay, appoint, bring into a condition, or cause to be.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

delivered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of deliver. Sense 1: To rescue, save, free, or bring safely out of danger or bondage. Sense 2: To hand over, give up, or place into another's power or possession. Sense 3: To bring forth, convey, declare, or commit something to another. Sense 4: To give birth or be delivered of a child.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

keep

↗

To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Easter

↗

A named feast occurring in the Passover and days-of-unleavened-bread season.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 12:5

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

without

↗

Outside or on the exterior; beyond a boundary; lacking, absent, free from, not accompanied by, or apart from the person, thing, condition, means, or relation named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

church

↗

Sense 1: An assembly or congregation belonging to God or Christ. Sense 2: In passages identifying the church with Christ's body, the body of which Christ is the head.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Acts 12:1–12

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

12:1NOW about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

12:2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Selected passage

12:3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Selected passage

12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Selected passage

12:5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Selected passage

12:6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

12:7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

12:8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

12:9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

12:10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

12:11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12:12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

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