Veritable King James Version
1About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
2He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
8And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant named Rhoda came to answer.
14Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.
15They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is his angel!”
16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
17But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they be led away. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
22And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a human!”
23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, who was called Mark.
Translation notes
The NA28 Greek text uses “ἐκκλησία” in verse 1, translated as “church” gender-neutrally, referring to the Christian community. “Some” translates “τινας” inclusively, as the group is unspecified. “People” in verse 4 renders “λαῷ” gender-neutrally, referring to the Jewish crowd. “Days of Unleavened Bread” and “Passover” translate “ἡμέρας τῶν ἀζύμων” and “Πάσχα,” retaining the KJV’s Jewish festival terms, per the NA28. No divine pronouns appear in this section.
“Church” in verse 5 translates “ἐκκλησία” gender-neutrally. Capitalized “God” and “Lord” (in “angel of the Lord”) follow instructions. “Earnest prayer” renders “προσευχὴ ἐκτενής,” modernizing the KJV’s “prayer was made without ceasing” while retaining its intensity. “Angel of the Lord” translates “ἄγγελος Κυρίου,” per the NA28, with “light shone” rendering “φῶς ἔλαμψεν,” preserving the KJV’s miraculous imagery.
“They” in verse 10 refers to Peter and the angel, kept neutral where possible. “Angel of the Lord” from verse 7 is implied, with no additional divine pronouns. “Opened of its own accord” translates “αὐτομάτη ἠνοίγη,” preserving the KJV’s miraculous tone. “Vision” renders “ὅραμα,” aligning with Peter’s perception, per the NA28. No gender-neutral adjustments are needed, as the context specifies Peter and the angel.
Capitalized “Lord” and “His” (for God) follow instructions. “Jewish people” translates “λαοῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων” gender-neutrally, per the NA28. “Many” in verse 12 renders “ἱκανοὶ” inclusively, referring to gathered believers. “Came to himself” translates “ἐν ἑαυτῷ γενόμενος,” modernizing the KJV’s “come to himself” while retaining its sense of realization. No gender-neutral adjustments are needed for named individuals (Peter, Mary, John Mark).
“Servant” in verse 13 translates “παιδίσκην,” specifying Rhoda as female, so no gender-neutral adjustment is needed. “They” in verse 15 refers to the gathered believers, translated gender-neutrally for “αὐτοί.” “His angel” renders “ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ,” reflecting the belief in a guardian angel, per the NA28 and KJV. “Out of your mind” translates “μαίνῃ,” modernizing the KJV’s “mad” for clarity.
“They” in verse 16 refers to the believers, translated gender-neutrally for “αὐτοί.” “Brothers” in verse 17 renders “ἀδελφοί,” retained as a term of fellowship, though “siblings” was considered for inclusivity. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Brought him out” translates “ἐξήγαγεν,” echoing the KJV’s emphasis on divine deliverance, per the NA28. “Another place” renders “ἕτερον τόπον,” maintaining narrative ambiguity.
“Soldiers” and “sentries” in verses 18–19 translate “στρατιώταις” and “φύλακας,” gender-neutral as the Greek is unspecified. “Led away” renders “ἀπαχθῆναι,” implying execution, per the NA28 and KJV’s context, modernized for clarity. No divine pronouns appear in this section. The narrative maintains the KJV’s historical tone.
“People of Tyre and Sidon” and “people” in verses 20 and 22 translate “Τυρίων καὶ Σιδωνίων” and “δῆμος” gender-neutrally, referring to mixed crowds. “Human” in verse 22 renders “ἀνθρώπου,” gender-neutral to contrast with “god” (lowercase, as it refers to a false perception). “Royal robes” translates “ἐσθῆτα βασιλικήν,” preserving the KJV’s grandeur, per the NA28. No divine pronouns appear in this section.
Capitalized “God” and “Lord” (in “angel of the Lord”) follow instructions. “Struck him down” translates “ἐπάταξεν αὐτόν,” echoing the KJV’s divine judgment imagery. “Eaten by worms” renders “γενομένος σκωληκόβρωτος,” preserving the NA28 and KJV’s vivid description. “Word of God” translates “λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ,” maintaining the KJV’s emphasis on gospel growth.
“Service” translates “διακονίαν,” referring to the relief mission from Acts 11:29–30, modernizing the KJV’s “ministration.” “John, who was called Mark” retains the specific identifier, per the NA28. No divine pronouns or gender-neutral adjustments are needed, as the context names individuals (Barnabas, Saul, John Mark). The narrative aligns with the KJV’s tone.
© Veritable King James Version, 2026. All Rights Reserved.