1 That's when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter - all this during Passover Week, mind you - and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover. 5 All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.