Chapter
12
Now about that time, Heroda the queen stretched out her hands to oppress some of the assembly.
She killed Jamie, the sister of Johanna, with the sword.
When she saw that it pleased the Jews, she proceeded to seize Petra also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
When she had arrested her, she put her in prison, and delivered her to four squads of four soldiers each to guard her, intending to bring her out to the people after the Passover.
Petra therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for her.
The same night when Heroda was about to bring her out, Petra was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
And behold, an angel of the Domina stood by her, and a light shone in the cell. She struck Petra on the side, and woke her up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" Hers chains fell off from her hands.
The angel said to her, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." She did so. She said to her, "Put on your cloak, and follow me."
And she went out and followed her. She didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought she saw a vision.
When 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 her.
When Petra had come to herself, she said, "Now I truly know that the Domina has sent out her angel and delivered me out of the hand of Heroda, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."
Thinking about that, she came to the house of Mary, the father of Johanna whose surname was Margaret, where many were gathered together and were praying.
When Petra knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
When he recognized Petra's voice, he didn't open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Petra was standing in front of the gate.
They said to him, "You are crazy!" But he insisted that it was so. They said, "It is her angel."
But Petra continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw her, and were amazed.
But she, beckoning to them with her hand to be silent, declared to them how the Domina had brought her out of the prison. She said, "Tell these things to Jamie, and to the sisters." Then she departed, and went to another place.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Petra.
When Heroda had sought for her, and didn't find her, she examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. She went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Now Heroda was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to her, and, having made Blastus, the queen's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the queen's country for food.
On an appointed day, Heroda dressed herself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a woman!"
Immediately an angel of the Domina struck her, because she didn't give God the glory, and she was eaten by worms and died.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saula returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them Johanna whose surname was Margaret.