1 About that time King Herod began to harass some who belonged to the church.
2 He had James, John’s brother, killed with a sword.
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter as well. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
4 He put Peter in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers, sixteen in all, who guarded him. He planned to charge him publicly after the Passover.
5 While Peter was held in prison, the church offered earnest prayer to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was going to bring Peter’s case forward, Peter was asleep between two soldiers and bound with two chains, with soldiers guarding the prison entrance.