What happensPermalink
Herod kills James and arrests Peter, intending to kill him too. An angel rescues Peter, who goes to Mary’s house (John Mark’s mother) and tells them what happened, then disappears. An angel kills Herod for comparing himself to God. John Mark returns with Saul and Barnabas to Antioch.
Why it mattersPermalink
Peter’s visit to John Mark’s house transitions the story of Acts from Peter’s ministry in and around Jerusalem to Saul’s much wider-ranging ministry, following the command of Jesus to preach in Jerusalem, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Key versePermalink
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him [Peter], 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.