First ReadingActs 12:1-11
From the Acts of the Apostles
1Now about that time,King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.2He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.3When he saw that it pleased the Jews,he proceeded to seize Peter also.This was during the days of unleavened bread.4When he had arrested him,he put him in prisonand delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him,intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.5Peter therefore was kept in the prison,but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.6The 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.
7And 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.8The 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.”9And he went out and followed him.He didn’t knowthat what was being done by the angel was real,but thought he saw a vision.10When 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.
11When Peter had come to himself,he said, “Now I truly knowthat the Lord has sent out his angeland delivered me out of the hand of Herod,and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”