Acts 12:4

² And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

³ And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

⁵ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

⁶ And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
KJV: And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
WEB: When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
ASV: And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.
DARBY: whom having seized he put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep, purposing after the passover to bring him out to the people.
BLB: whom also having arrested, he put in prison, having delivered [him] to four sets of four soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

ÅB: og da han hadde grepet ham, kastet han ham i fengsel, og overlot til fire vaktskifter av stridsmenn, hvert på fire mann, å passe på ham, da han etter påsken ville føre ham fram for folket.
OTB: Etter å ha arrestert ham, satte han ham i fengsel og overlot ham til å bli voktet av fire vaktskifter med soldater. Herodes planla å føre ham fram for offentlig rettssak etter påsken.
B1930: og da han hadde grepet ham, kastet han ham i fengsel, og overlot til fire vaktskifter av stridsmenn, hvert på fire mann, å passe på ham, da han efter påsken vilde føre ham frem for folket.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Read in context
Luke 22:33
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Read in context
Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Read in context
John 13:36–38
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Read in context
Acts 4:28
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Read in context
John 21:18
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Read in context
Esther 3:6–7
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Read in context
Esther 3:13
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
Read in context