13. Peter knocked at the outside door, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer it.
14. She recognized Peter's voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside.
15. “You are mad!” they told her. But she insisted that it was true. So they answered, “It is his angel.”
16. Meanwhile Peter kept on knocking. At last they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were amazed.
17. He motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, and he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell this to James and the rest of the believers,” he said; then he left and went somewhere else.
18. When morning came, there was a tremendous confusion among the guards — what had happened to Peter?
19. Herod gave orders to search for him, but they could not find him. So he had the guards questioned and ordered them to be put to death.After this, Herod left Judea and spent some time in Caesarea.
20. Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, so they went in a group to see him. First they convinced Blastus, the man in charge of the palace, that he should help them. Then they went to Herod and asked him for peace, because their country got its food supplies from the king's country.
21. On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people.
22. “It isn't a man speaking, but a god!” they shouted.
23. At once the angel of the Lord struck Herod down, because he did not give honour to God. He was eaten by worms and died.
24. Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and grow.