MODERN LITERAL VERSION

12:1 Now throughout that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to mistreat some from the congregation*.
12:2 And he assassinated James the brother of John with the sword. {April 44 AD.}
12:3 And having seen that it was pleasing to the Jews, he also proceeded to take Peter. (And these were the days of unleavened bread.)
12:4 And when he had arrested him, he placed him in prison and gave him to four companies of four soldiers to guard him; intending to bring him up to the people after the Passover.
12:5 Therefore indeed, Peter was kept in the prison, but intense prayer was happening by the congregation* to God on his behalf.
12:6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, in that same night Peter had fallen-asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door guarded the prison.
12:7 And behold, a messenger of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the cell and he struck Peter on the ribs and he stood him up, saying, Stand up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
12:8 And the messenger said to him, Gird yourself and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Put your garment around you and follow me.
12:9 And he went out and followed him, and he did not know that this was true which was happening through the messenger, but thought he was seeing a vision.
12:10 And when they had gone by the first and second prison, they came to the iron gate that brings them into the city; which opened by itself for them, and they went out and went forward one lane, and immediately the messenger withdrew from him.

12:11 And when Peter came* to himself, he said, Now I truly know, that the Lord has sent forth his messenger and liberated me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12:12 And being conscious of it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where a considerable number were accumulated together and were praying.
12:13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maidservant named Rhoda came to listen to who was there.
12:14 And when she recognized Peter's voice, she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and reported that Peter stood before the gate.

12:15 And they said to her, You are mad. But she stoutly affirmed that it was so.
And they said, It is his messenger.

12:16 But Peter remained and kept knocking. And when they had opened the door, they saw him and were astonished.
12:17 But he, beckoning to them with the hand to be silent, described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he came out and went to another place.
12:18 When it became day, there was not just a little disturbance among the soldiers, as to what then had become of Peter.
12:19 And when Herod had sought for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and commanded them to be led away for execution. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
{Around May 44 AD. Caesarea. Herod Agrippa dies. Palestine reunited to Rome.}

12:20 Now Herod was quarreling with those from Tyre and Sidon. But they came here to him united and sought peace and they persuaded Blastus who was over the king's bedroom. This was done because their country is nourished from the king's country.
12:21 And upon an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal apparel and sat upon the judicial-seat and publicly addressed them.
12:22 And the public shouted out, saying, This is the voice of a god and not of a man!
12:23 And instantly a messenger of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory and he expired, having become maggot-eaten.

12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
{Spring 44 AD. Antioch to Jerusalem back to Antioch (Acts 11:30), sending relief.}

12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
{45-48 AD. Asia Minor. Paul's first missionary journey from Antioch to Perga, Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and back to Antioch in Syria.}