15The people told her, "You're crazy!" But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, "It has to be his angel." 16But Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him. 17Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, "Tell James and the other believers about this." Then he left and went somewhere else. 18In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter. 19Herod searched for Peter but couldn't find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while. 20Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king's living quarters.) 21The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them. 22The people started shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died. 24But God's word continued to spread and win many followers. 25After Barnabas and Saul delivered the contribution [to the leaders in Jerusalem], they returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem. They brought John Mark with them.
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