Acts 12:17-25

¹⁷Peter held up his hand for them to be quiet, and then explained to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. “Let James and the brothers know about this,” he told them, and then left to go somewhere else.

¹⁸When daylight came the soldiers were totally confused as to what had happened to Peter.

¹⁹Herod had a thorough search made for him, but he couldn't be found. After interrogating the guards, Herod ordered that they should be executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to stay in Caesarea.

²⁰Now Herod had become furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They sent a joint delegation to see him and managed to win Blastus, the king's personal assistant, over to their side. They pleaded for peace with Herod because they were dependent on the king's territory for food.

²¹When the day came for their appointment with the king, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and gave a speech to them.

²²The audience shouted in response, “This is the voice of a god, not that of a man!”

²³Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. He was consumed by worms and died.

²⁴But the word of God spread, and more and more people believed.

²⁵Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem once they had finished their mission, taking John Mark with them.